Fierce fighting is going on the other side of Bangladesh-Myanmar border, adjacent to Nykhangchori of Bandarban district, between the rebel group Arakan Army and military Junta of Myanmar. It seems like the locality at the border area have been turned into a battle field.
Five people of Bangladesh have been injured by the firing conducted on the other side of the border. Many houses were burnt from the artillery firing, as well as many fled from the houses. Due to the heavy attacks of rebel groups, 68 soldiers of Border Guard Police (BGP) of Mynanmar fled from their territory and taken shelter in Bangladesh’s BGB camps.
The firing and gunshot on Ghumdhum and Tumbru border, started at Saturday morning 3am, were still going on while this report was being written. The BGB has provided treatment to 15 soldiers of BGP who were injured and taken shelter to them.
According to the locals, more than 50 BGP members are prepared to enter into Bangladesh. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday in response to the questions of reporters at the Secretariat said, “We will not allow anyone to cross the border. I have given that instruction to BGB. Myanmar police entered Bangladesh to defend themselves. We have detained them and will send them back.”
He said insurgency continues in Myanmar. Many areas of Rakhine are being occupied one by one by the insurgent group called Arakan Army. Arakan Army is also occupying the BGP bases in Myanmar. Some members of BGP have entered our border and sought help from BGB to defend themselves. The BGB members are locked in a place with their weapons stored. Myanmar is being contacted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so that they take them.
The Home Minister also said, “We don’t want to get involved in any war. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has always given us that direction. That does not mean that it will come upon us and we will give up. We are always ready for that. We have increased strength at the border. Our police and coast guard have also been instructed, so that no one can intrude on our border. If the Rohingya people of Myanmar think that there is a war there, they will go somewhere else. We will not let anyone enter at the moment.”
34 BGB Commander Lt. Col. Abdullah Al Mashruqi said the BGB is on alert regarding the possible infiltration of Rohingyas. Surveillance has been increased in border areas. Not a single Rohingya will be allowed to enter again.”
Since the war inside Myanmar intensified late last month, bullets and mortar shells are often coming across the border. Several bullets and mortar shells came from the other side in Tumbru Konar Para, Megher Para and Bazar Para of Bangladesh territory on Sunday. The people of these three villages left their homes in fear. Five people were seriously injured in the shooting. A few houses in Kona neighborhood were also damaged. The injured in firing from Myanmar are: Pravindra Dhar (50), Rahima Begum (40), Titu (30) and Amir Hussain's son Shamsul Alam, resident of Konar Para. The identity of the other is not known. They are being treated at various local hospitals. Five government primary schools, one secondary school, one lower secondary school and one madrassa along the border have again been declared closed due to the situation. The residents of the border area are passing the time in extreme fear.
Local UP member Dil Mohammad said thousands of people from three villages have left their homes and taken shelter elsewhere since Saturday night. Everyone left the house leaving cattle in their houses. There was no opportunity to take the goods.
According to Cox's Bazar and Bandarban correspondents of The Bangladesh Pratidin said apart from heavy firing, mortar shelling is going on across the border since 3 pm on Saturday. Junta forces drop bombs from helicopter gunships targeting rebel positions. Around 12 noon on Sunday, military helicopters of the Myanmar junta forces were seen patrolling across the border. Helicopters fired bullets, mortar shells and bombs at the insurgents. In retaliation, members of the insurgent group Arakan Army used heavy weapons. On Sunday evening, a bomb was dropped from a Myanmar army warplane. The border market is closed. Arakan Army surrounds Tumbru Right Camp in Myanmar. The border observation post has also been captured by the rebel group. In this attack, members of Myanmar's border guard have escaped from the base and entered the Bangladesh border. Many of them are injured.
Ghumdhum UP Chairman Jahangir Aziz said that some members of Myanmar's BGP crossed the Tumbru border and took refuge in Bangladesh. Schools near the border have been instructed to remain closed for the time being to avoid any untoward incident. Bangladesh Border Guard-BGB also increased security at the border. Patrolling has been strengthened by increasing the number of security posts. BGB is on high alert.
Deputy Commissioner of Bandarban Shah Mojahid Uddin said, “Highest possible measures have been taken by the administration to prevent untoward incidents at the border. Local public representatives and administration officials have been instructed to keep an eye on the border.”
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun has said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will stand by the Bangladesh border to tackle the crisis caused by the conflict in Myanmar.
He said we are also working with BGB on the border. We will give them whatever support they wants from us.
There is a fierce conflict between Myanmar's rebel group Arakan Army and the country's army. Due to this clash, tension has been going on for more than a week on the border of Ghumdhum and Tumbru in Naikshyongchari of Bandarban. Myanmar rebels have taken over the Tumbru camp in Myanmar. There is tension across the border. In panic, people left their homes and took safe shelter in the homes of their relatives. As of writing this report Sunday evening, shelling and bombardment continued from helicopters and military aircraft.
(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on February 5 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque Khan)
