After three days of calm loud sound of explosions and shelling from airplanes could be heard across the border of Teknaf upazila’s Hnila and Hoikong unions in Cox's Bazar. This has created panic and anxiety among the residents of the border.
No more loud explosions or gunfire were heard after 4 pm on Monday due to the ongoing conflict inside Myanmar. But after three days on Thursday from morning to 2.30 pm, locals including public representatives said that they heard loud explosions.
Residents of several areas, including Unchiprang on the border of Huaykong Union, Kanjarpara and Fullerdale on the border of Hnila Union, said that clashes between the government forces and the Arakan Army are going on around Bolibazar and Nakpura areas of Myanmar's Rakhine State, at least 2 to 3 kilometres across the Nafni River. The loud sound of gunshots and mortar shell explosions can be heard from the other side as well.
Incidents of mortar shells or bombs being dropped by aircraft circling from high up in the sky have also been seen. Locals believe that members of Myanmar's junta forces carried out the attack in the Bolibazar area, which was controlled by the Arakan Army. They heard the sound of explosions intermittently from 3 am to noon on Thursday.
Rashed Mahmud Ali, chairman of Hnila Union Parishad of Teknaf, said that after three days, the sounds of gunfire and explosions were heard across the border. The shelling started intermittently from dawn.
He said, "Later, from 10 am to 2:30 pm, there was a continuous loud noise. At that time, a fighter jet plane was seen circling in the sky towards Bolibazar and Nakpura neighbourhood in Myanmar. There were also incidents of firing of bullets and mortar shells from aircraft. However, in the afternoon the noise died down, but the sound of gunshots is still being heard intermittently.
Mohammad Shahjalal, the panel chairman of Hoikang Union and a member of Ward No. 5, said that after three days, the sound of gunshots was heard again. People residing across the border are panicking.
Taher Naeem, a resident of the Unchiprang area of Teknaf and a local journalist, said that the border situation was normal for 3 days. Three days later sound of the explosions could be heard again forcing many residents to shift to safer places inside.
Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB) captain Lt. Col. Mohiuddin Ahmed said that BGB members have been kept on high alert to monitor the situation in Myanmar's Rakhine State and prevent infiltration.
