The residents of the border areas of Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar were panic-stricken by loud shelling sounds overnight as fighting continued between the Arakan Army and Myanmar’s junta forces in Maungdaw, Rakhine State.
Residents living along the Bangladesh–Myanmar border reported hearing repeated explosions throughout the night, triggering widespread panic.
The information was confirmed on Sunday morning after speaking with residents in the border areas of Ukhiya and Teknaf.
Palongkhali Union Parishad Chairman Gafuruddin Chowdhury said border residents were living in fear as shelling sounds were heard again after a long gap.
He said the explosions were particularly intense in Rahmat Bill, Anjuman Para, Balukhali, Norbonia and Damankhali areas. Locals also reported seeing fighter jets near the border.
Residents said loud explosions were heard intermittently from across the border throughout the night, and fighter jets were visible for extended periods. The clashes reportedly took place in the Bolibazar area, about 15 kilometres east-southeast of border pillar BRM-18 and around 13 kilometres inside the zero line.
Ukhiya resident Md Imran said residents were unable to sleep due to the intense sounds, although no gunfire was heard on Sunday morning.
He expressed concern that renewed attempts to reclaim areas of Rakhine under Arakan Army control could further deteriorate the border situation.
Whykong Union Parishad Ward No 2 member Sirajul Mostafa Lalu said sudden explosion-like sounds caused panic among border residents, many of whom spent the night awake.
In the past month alone, bullets fired from across the border have landed in villages in the Whykong area at least four to five times, locals said.
Another resident, Azmat Ullah, said doors and windows of homes shook due to the explosions, forcing families to leave their houses out of fear.
Lieutenant Colonel Jasim Uddin, commander of the 64th Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Ukhiya, said explosion sounds were heard inside Myanmar near the Whykong BOP area. He said the incidents occurred well inside Myanmar territory and there was no reason for panic, adding that BGB remains on alert.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Emamul Hafiz Nadim said residents along the border had been advised not to panic and confirmed that all law enforcement agencies were on heightened alert.
Earlier, on December 13, bullets fired during six hours of gunfire and mortar shelling from across the border had landed in local homes.
The clashes occurred in areas around Bolibazar, Sayerbil, and Totardwip along the Naf River in northern Maungdaw Township.
