Photo : Collected
In Maungdaw, Myanmar's Rakhine state, a clash between the armed rebel group Arakan Army and forces supported by the junta has caused severe tremors in some areas of the Teknaf border of Cox's Bazar. Heavy mortar shells and bomb blasts were heard across the border from 1:30 am last Sunday. Such explosions continued until Sunday afternoon. The sound of these mortar shells and bomb explosions was so intense that residents of Teknaf Municipality, Sabrang, and Noapara areas came out of their houses in fear and spent a sleepless night.
In a separate incident on Friday night, a man's leg was blown off, and his two companions were seriously injured while hunting crabs in Laldwip, Myanmar part of Naf River.
Nurul Haque, a resident of Teknaf municipality, said that since the beginning of the conflict in Rakhine, such loud sounds of mortar shells and bomb explosions have never been heard. "In the early hours of Monday morning, every bomb and mortar shell in the Rakhine conflict shook our houses. Many people left their homes and stayed outside."
Mohd Fahad, a resident of the Sabrang border, added, "The sound of mortar shells and heavy gunfire in Rakhine on the other side felt like it would destroy our houses. Every house in my area shook like an earthquake with the sound of successive mortar shells and bomb blasts. We were awakened by the terrible sound of the explosion. The small children in the house were crying in fear."
Mohammad Sharif, a member of Sabrang Union Parishad, said, "I think there was a clash between two forces in the Maungdaw area of Rakhine." He noted that Maungdaw, located opposite Sabrang and Noapara, is in close proximity to their area, so any attacks there would cause tremors to be felt locally. "Until the end of the conflict in Maungdaw, the sound of mortar shells and bomb explosions will be heard in our area," he added.
Nurul Islam, a resident of Maungdaw town in Rakhine, provided further details, stating that the insurgent group Arakan Army attempted to capture Maungdaw at midnight on Friday. In response, the Junta forces tried to stop them with all their might, seemingly using all available weapons and bombs. However, Maungdaw remains under the control of the Junta.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Zobair (25) died in a mine explosion while hunting crabs in an area called Laldwip on the Myanmar border of Naf river around 9 pm last Friday. He was the son of Mohammad Hamid, an old Rohingya resident of Jadimura area in Hnila union of the upazila. In the incident, two of his companions, Shah Alam and Abdu Sukkur, were injured. All three had infiltrated Myanmar a few years ago and lived with their families in separate rented houses next to the camp.
Teknaf Naval Police OC Tapan Kumar Biswas confirmed the incident, stating that Mohammad Zobair died in a mine explosion while going crab hunting in Laldwip. His other two companions, Shah Alam and Abdu Sukkur, are receiving treatment for serious injuries. "I learned that they are old Rohingya who came a few years ago," he added.
Messenger/Fameema
