Residents along the Ukhiya-Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar are living in fear as the sound of heavy gunfire echoed through the night, a result of ongoing clashes between the Arakan Army and Myanmar’s military forces in Maungdaw, Rakhine State.
After a month of relative calm, the gunfire resumed late Sunday night, reigniting tensions in the area.
On Monday, Gafur Uddin Chowdhury, Chairman of Ukhiya’s Palongkhali Union Parishad, said: "Throughout the night, we heard loud explosions near the border, which has frightened residents. After a month, the loud sounds of gunfire have returned to our border. The noise was particularly intense in areas like Rahmat Beel, Anjuman Para, Balukhali, Norbonia, and Damongkhali. Some locals have reported seeing warplanes near the border."
The Myanmar military is engaged in continuous fighting with the rebels.
The explosions of gunfire and mortar shells near the border have spread panic among the residents on the Bangladesh side. Locals reported hearing intermittent loud explosions throughout the night from across the border, and at times, warplanes were visible in the sky.
Noor Khan, a resident of Rahmat Beel in Palongkhali, Ukhiya, said: "There was heavy fighting across the border in the early hours. After quite some time, we heard the loud sounds of shelling near our border again, causing panic among many people."
Abdullah, a resident of Acharbonia Para, said: "The intensity of the fighting in Myanmar has increased. Mortar shells and heavy artillery are being used in the clashes, and attacks are also being carried out from the air by warplanes. As a result, people living near the border are in a state of fear. Earlier, the loud blasts had caused cracks in some homes in our area."
When asked about the situation, Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Adnan Chowdhury said: "Loud sounds of explosions were heard throughout the night near the border. We are monitoring the situation and checking on the residents living close to the border."
