Three individuals were injured in separate landmine explosions at the Naikhongchhari border in Bandarban on Friday morning.
The injured were promptly rescued and sent to hospitals for treatment.
The first explosion occurred around 6:30am in the Ashar Toli border area, a few hundred yards inside Myanmar from the zero line.
Ali Hossain, 30, sustained injuries in the blast.
His left leg was severed, and his right leg was severely burnt.
Ali Hossain is the son of Mohammad Hossain, a resident of the border area in Naikhongchhari.
Around 10:30am, another explosion occurred near Pillar 49 of the same border.
This incident, which took place approximately 400 metres inside Myanmar from the zero line, injured Md Rasel, 25, son of former union parishad member Mujibur Rahman from the Ashar Toli area.
Additionally, a third explosion happened in the Jamgachhori area, injuring Arif Ullah, 30, son of Zafar Ahmed from Ward 9 of Sadar union.
Arif was admitted to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, while Rasel and Ali Hossain were taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for further treatment.
Syed Kashem, a resident of Ashar Toli, said that Ali, Rasel, and several others crossed the border between Pillars 48 and 49 and ventured a few hundred yards inside Myanmar, where they were injured in the explosions.
Their companions rescued them and brought them back to Bangladesh.
Ali Hossain lost one leg, and his other leg was burned, while Rasel suffered injuries to his legs, chest, and face.
Nurul Absar, chairman of Naikhongchhari sadar union parishad, mentioned that the injured individuals had crossed the border into Myanmar to collect betel nuts.
During their expedition, they were injured by landmine explosions.
He also said that many people regularly cross into Myanmar through border points such as Ashar Toli, Phultoli, Amtoli, and Lemu Chhori, often used by smugglers as well.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) Masrurul Haque of Naikhongchhari Police Station confirmed the incident, saying that three individuals were injured in the explosions and were subsequently hospitalized.
He speculated that Myanmar’s armed group, the Arakan Army, might have planted the landmines along the border.