Staff Reporter :
Two mortar shells fell in Bangladesh border area from Myanmar. On Sunday around 3 pm, the police reported that two mortar shells fell in the area of border pillars number 34 and 35 on the Tumbru border of Ghumdhum union of Naikxyongchari upazila of Bandarban.
However, even though no casualty occurred at this time, there is panic among the locals.
After the incident, many inhabitants left that village and took shelter in the houses of their relatives in neighboring villages.
Superintendent of Bandarban Police Tariqul Islam told the media that two mortar shells from Myanmar landed on the border of Ghumdhum Union half a kilometer from the Zero Line in Bangladesh.
One of them is next to Uttarpara Jame Masjid, the other is 200 yards away from that mosque. No one was injured in this incident. BGB members are on alert at the border.
He also said that it is assumed that the mortar shells were not targeted and fired at us. We think that some insurgent group with Myanmar’s Border Guard Force (BGP) may cross our border due to firing.
Sarwar Alam, a local resident, said that the shell came near one Ayaz’s house in Uttar Para on Sunday afternoon. Another shot was later fired into a nearby street. We are in panic. Don’t know what happens when and how?
Due to this, many villagers left this village and took refuge in the houses of their relatives in the neighboring villages.
Jahangir Aziz, Chairman of Ghumdhum Union, told the media that there has been fighting in Myanmar for the past two weeks. I have learned from various sources that there is a conflict between the Myanmar Army and the rebel Arakan Army in Rakhine.
When 34 BGB in charge of Naikshyongchari border was contacted to know about the matter, no one on duty answered the phone.
However, BGB Headquarters Director (Operation) Major Faizur Rahman told the media that strict surveillance is being done on the border soon after the incident. Even the BGB soldiers are working there and they are in alert position to control any situation.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Masod Bin Momen said that Dhaka will investigate the incident of mortar shells falling on the border. He said this while talking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
The foreign secretary said that the incident of the unexploded mortar shell falling on the Bangladesh border will be investigated whether it was an accident or intentional. Myanmar will be warned if there is an accident.
