Explosions in Myanmar’s Rakhine rock Teknaf border area for second day

Repeated bomb blasts, accompanied by heavy gunfights, in Myanmar’s conflict-hit Rakhine state threatened stability along the border in Teknaf for the second day on Thursday.

Explosions from Rakhine’s Balibazar and Kumirkhali areas shook houses in Howaikang and Hnila areas of Teknaf in the morning, locals claimed, adding no further incident took place in the day.

Many fishermen returned from the Naf river after hearing the explosions in the morning.

Fishermen Mujibur Rahman said he went fishing in the Naf river on Thursday morning, but returned soon after hearing repeated explosions from across the border.

BGB’s Ukhiya Battalion (64 BGB) chief Lt Col Md Jahirul Islam said that the border force was looking into the claims of the second day of explosions across the border.

BGB and the Coast Guard are on high alert to prevent a renewed influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in the face of the escalating conflict between the rebel Arakan Army and Myanmar military.

Both the Arakan Army and Myanmar military are engaged in separate fights with different Rohingya groups in Rakhine.

Earlier, on Wednesday night, the military conducted 27 air raids on the Mangdu township held by the rebels. The Arakan Army resisted the raids by firing heavy weaponry into the air.

Sirajul Mostafa Lalu, member at Ward No 2 in Howaikang union, said the latest fighting is reminiscent of similar heavy battles a year ago, and therefore, has renewed security fears along the Bangladeshi border area.