At least 58 Myanmar border guards, 15 of them with bullet wounds, sought refuge in Bandarban as fighting intensified near the Tumbru border. The Border Guard Bangladesh disarmed the guards and took them into custody in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban. The clashes between Myanmar troops and the armed group Arakan Army led to bullets and mortar shells crossing the border, resulting in three Bangladeshi citizens being injured. Terrified residents of the Tumbru area fled, with some carrying essential items and seeking safety on foot. Many people were trapped in the no-man’s-land amidst heavy shelling.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader called for China’s intervention, citing panic among the public. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen met with Quader to discuss the situation. Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal stated that the process of repatriating the Myanmar Border Guard Police members had begun, emphasizing that such incidents should not occur.
In Chandra, near the border, a man named Ferdous was shot by Myanmar troops from a helicopter. Another man, Shamsul Alam, also sustained bullet wounds. Both were taken to a hospital in Ukhiya for treatment. The MSF hospital in Ukhiya treated 15 Myanmar border guards with bullet wounds.
During a visit to Tumbru, a correspondent from The Daily Star observed numerous bullets and explosives crossing the border. A mortar shell even landed inside Bangladesh. Witnesses reported seeing helicopters dropping bombs twice throughout the day.
Reports indicate that the Arakan Army has captured several areas in Rakhine state, including all Border Guard Police outposts along the Naikhongchhari border.
As tensions intensify along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, the safety and well-being of both the Myanmar border guards and Bangladeshi citizens caught in the crossfire remain a concern. Efforts are underway to address the situation and ensure the return of the border guards to Myanmar. The international community is closely monitoring the escalating conflict and its impact on the region.
