After mortar shelling, firing, and air space violations in Bangladesh's Tumbru border region from Myanmar, gunshots have now been heard in Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya border area.
Locals said the gunshots were heard from 7am to 10am in Anjumanpara area of Palongkhali union on Tuesday.
Gafur Chowdhury, chairman of Palongkhali union, said that after Tumbru in Bandarban, locals of Ukhiya border area heard several gunshots, and it has spread panic among the residents.
He also mentioned that Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been informed of the matter, reports Bangla Tribune.
Besides, Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Imran Hossain Sajib said: "Locals reported hearing sounds of gunshots in the morning. About 100 families are living within 300 metres of the border.”
On the other hand, locals at the Tumbru border area of Ghumdhum union also reported hearing gunshots since 8am again.
Acting Foreign Secretary Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khorshed Alam on Tuesday said the Myanmar side always makes the same claims by blaming Arakan Army and Arsa for mortar shells landing in Bangladesh.
“We sought their (diplomats) help so that Myanmar can’t take advantage of creating instability in the region,” said the acting foreign secretary.
On Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar summoned Bangladesh Ambassador Manjurul Karim Chowdhury on Monday to explain its stance regarding the recent gunfights and mortar shelling along the border in Naikhongchhari of Bandarban.
During the meeting, the ministry director-general put blame on the Arakan Army (AA) and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa), adding that the Myanmar army had been trying to tackle armed attacks.
The ministry said that the “terrorist groups” used the same weapons to attack on Border Guard Police (BGP) outposts on September 16-17, causing the law enforcers to retaliate. During the period, at least 12 mortal shells landed inside Bangladesh territory.
Earlier, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry summoned the Myanmar ambassador in Dhaka on Sunday, for the fourth time since August and lodged a strong protest against the incidents of mortar shelling.
On Friday night, a 17-year-old-Rohingya boy named Mohammad Iqbal was killed and five others were injured when a mortar shell fired by the Myanmar army exploded at the Zero Point Rohingya Camp close to the international border in Tombru, Bandarban.
The deceased and injured were all residents of the Zero Point Rohingya Camp, known as the camp closest to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, on no-man's land.
The same day, a youth named Anganthowai Tanchangya was grievously injured in a landmine explosion along the border in Naikhongchhari. Due to the injuries, one of his legs had to be amputated.
