The sound of explosions on the border in Myanmar has stopped, warships have also moved away

Gunfire and the sound of mortar shells and grenades exploding around Maungdoo township in Myanmar’s Rakhine state have stopped. Residents of Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf and St. Martin did not hear any such sounds across the border from Friday morning to Saturday 1 am. On the other hand, the warship of the Myanmar Navy stationed at the Naf River estuary has not been seen since Friday evening.

Chairman of Sabrang Union Parishad (UP) Noor Hossain said, ‘The entire Teknaf was shaken by a loud explosion last Thursday night. People could not sleep peacefully. However, there was no further sound from Friday morning till 1 am on Saturday. We are on alert so that no one can cross the border and enter Bangladesh again.

Chairman of St. Martin UP Mujibur Rahman said that there was no sound of gunfire on the border since Friday morning. However, the panic did not end among the people living on the island. About 10,500 people on the island are worried about when they will be able to travel on the previous sea route (Teknauf-Saint Martin). Because it is very dangerous to travel on the road at present.

No further gunfire was heard from Myanmar between Friday morning and Saturday 1 am. However, service trawlers will use the alternative sea route to St. Martin.

Md. Adnan Chowdhury, Upazila Executive Officer, Teknaf

Residents of the border area said that the warship of the Myanmar Navy, which had been stationed in Badarmokam area of ​​Shah Pari Island on the Teknaf-St. Martin waterway for two days, had moved away from there. The warship was later stationed in the Naikkyangdia area inside Myanmar’s territorial waters. Teknaf upazila executive officer (UNO) has confirmed that he has moved from the place after yesterday evening. Adnan Chowdhury.

UNO said no further gunfire was heard from Myanmar between Friday morning and Saturday 1am. The shootings inside Myanmar are their own thing. However, service trawlers and speedboats from Myanmar were fired upon one after the other as the large vessel took position in the Myanmar part of the Naf River. For this reason, travel to St. Martin through this waterway has been stopped for the time being. However, service trawlers will use the alternative sea route to St. Martin.

Local people say that the local people are in panic due to intermittent firing across the border. Apart from this, there are Rohingya settlements in the areas across the border where the shelling is going on. Saiful Islam, a resident of Shahpari Island, said that the situation is calmer than before. However, if a major conflict breaks out there, the Rohingyas may again flood. Abul Kalam, a shopkeeper in Shahpari’s Dwip Bazarpara, said, ‘Sounds of gunshots have been heard here for several days. As a result, the panic among the people living on the border did not end.

Local fisherman Noor Alam said, ‘Earlier I could catch fish in the Naf river with jaki nets. We have not been able to go fishing for several days due to the tension at the Myanmar border. As a result, it is difficult to run the family.’

According to several sources on the border, the Arakan Army, a pro-independence armed group of the country, has been fighting with the Myanmar government forces for three and a half months. Recently, the Arakan Army captured 14 border posts of Border Guard Police (BGP), several police stations and police outposts in Rachidong-Buchidong Township, including two towns in the north and southwest of Mangdu Township. Now they are fighting for the possession of Mangdu.