Youth loses leg in landmine blast along Teknaff border
The victim's father alleged that the blast was caused by a landmine planted by the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group in Myanmar that has been engaged in fierce fighting with the Myanmar military just across the border
A young fisherman lost his left leg in a powerful landmine explosion within the Bangladesh territory along the Whykong border in Teknaf upazila this morning (12 January).
The victim, identified as Abu Hanif, 22, son of Fazal Karim from the Lambabil area of Whykong, was fishing in the Naf River when the incident occurred around 10am.
According to the victim's father, Hanif had gone to a small islet known as Shahjahaner Dwip, situated between Shahjahaner Dwip and Hansher Dwip in the Naf River, to set his fishing nets. As he stepped onto the land, a loud explosion went off, severing his left leg from the ankle and causing injuries to his right leg.
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Local residents rushed to the spot and rescued the youth, initially taking him to the MSF Hospital in Kutupalong, Ukhiya. He was later shifted to Cox's Bazar District Sadar Hospital for advanced treatment as his condition was deemed critical.
Fazal Karim alleged that the blast was caused by a landmine planted by the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group in Myanmar that has been engaged in fierce fighting with the Myanmar military just across the border.
The news of the explosion triggered widespread outrage among locals in Whykong. Angry residents blocked the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf highway in protest, halting traffic for nearly half an hour.
Police eventually intervened and persuaded the protesters to clear the road, restoring normal traffic flow in about 30 minutes.
Sub-Inspector Khokon Chandra Rudra, in-charge of the Whykong Police Outpost, said they were informed of the matter by locals.
"We are investigating the incident and gathering more details about the nature of the explosion," he added.
Repeated attempts were made by The Business Standard to contact Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officials stationed at the border for comment, but they did not respond to phone calls.
The incident has heightened fears among border communities in Teknaf, who have been living under the shadow of the ongoing conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine State.
