Food shortage has hit Saint Martin’s Island as vessels could not deliver edible items to the offshore island even on Thursday, the eighth day since vessel movement was suspended due to repeated firing from Myanmar amid conflict between that country’s security forces and the rebel Arakan Army (AA).

Besides, a fresh panic gripped people living along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Teknaf upazila as the sounds of gunshots and explosions intensified since Wednesday.

Saint Martin’s Island Union Parishad Chairman Mujibur Rahman told the Daily Sun that four trawlers transported a number of people to and from the island through Marine Drive in Teknaf on Thursday, but the shortage of food was deepening gradually in Saint Martin’s.

“There is no food item, except rice, at the shops on the island. People are eating only rice as there are not even pulses to add,” he said urging for quick steps in this regard.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Office (UNO) Adnan Chowdhury said privately owned passenger vessel Bara Awlia will transport people to and from the island on Friday morning. It will also carry food supplies for the island.

Bullets were sprayed on trawlers and speed boats carrying election officials, patients, and construction materials and essential commodities near Naikkhondia of Myanmar side on 5 June, 8 June and 11 June, according to sources.

The firing prompted suspension of vessel movement to and from Saint Martin’s Island since 6 June, resulting in a shortage of supplies for around 10,000 residents of the offshore island.

Under these circumstances, the Cox’s Bazar district administration came up with an initiative to resume movement of water transports through alternative routes from Thursday.

Meanwhile, panic gripped the people living along the Myanmar-Bangladesh frontiers at Teknaf upazila as sounds of heavy gunshots and mortar explosions from the troubled Myanmar region reverberated through the different frontlines under the upazila since 10:00 pm on Wednesday, and continued till 1:00 am on Thursday, said sources.

Then it resumed in the predawn hours on Thursday and continued since then with intervals, they added.

Residents of Teknaf said the loud sound of the explosion coming from the Myanmar side shook the houses and buildings around Jaliyapara, Paschim Para, Uttar Para and Acharbaniya along with Jetighat area of Shahparirdwip Island near the border since Wednesday, said sources.

Additional BGB forces have been deployed in border areas to closely monitor and manage the situation.