Child critically injured by bullet fired from Myanmar at Teknaf border, 53 held

A Bangladeshi child has been injured after being hit by a bullet reportedly fired from Myanmar side along the Hwaikyang border in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar, amid ongoing violence across the frontier.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday in the Lumbabil area of Hwaikyang Union.

The injured child, Afnan, 12, is the daughter of Jasim Uddin, a resident of the area.

Local residents said panic has spread as sounds of gunfire were heard repeatedly from across the border. Fearing for their safety, many people living near the frontier have moved to safer locations. Concerns have also been raised over a possible fresh influx of Rohingyas taking advantage of the instability.

Meanwhile, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) said 53 members of Myanmar-based armed groups were detained while attempting to cross into Bangladesh to escape clashes with the Arakan Army inside Myanmar. The detainees were later handed over to Teknaf police.

Confirming the incident, Officer-in-Charge of Teknaf Model Police Station Mohammad Saiful Islam said gunfire was heard throughout the night from across the Hwaikyang border, and at one point a bullet from the Myanmar side struck the child.

“The injured girl was sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital in critical condition. Law enforcement agencies are working to keep the situation under control,” he said.

He added that 53 suspected members of Myanmar armed groups were detained from the border area in connection with the incident and are being questioned.

Local sources said armed clashes have been continuing for several days in Myanmar’s Rakhine state between the Arakan Army and other groups, including ARSA, RSO and the Nabi Hossain group. The spillover of the violence has severely disrupted normal life along the Hwaikyang border in Teknaf.