Fresh shelling in Myanmar’s Rakhine revives fear along Bangladesh border

Rohingya refugees say relatives have reported airstrikes, while border guards intensify patrols along the Naf River

After nearly a year of relative calm, heavy shelling and explosions have again rattled Myanmar's Rakhine State along the Naf River, reviving fears among residents in Bangladesh's border areas.

The Myanmar military shelled parts of Rakhine on Wednesday and Thursday, with explosions clearly heard across the border in Teknaf.

Residents there believe fighting has resumed between Myanmar's conflicting groups.

The renewed violence has alarmed the millions of Rohingya refugees living in camps in Cox's Bazar, many of whom still have relatives in Rakhine.

Rakhine families living in Cox's Bazar and Bandarban are also contacting relatives across the border after reports of fresh airstrikes.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has stepped up surveillance amid fears that displaced Rohingya could attempt to cross the border.

Reports of Casualties

Mujibur Rahman, president of the Arakan Rohingya Football Federation (ARFF), fled Maungdaw Township years ago and now lives in a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh.

He said relatives told him several Rohingya, including children, were injured in Myanmar military airstrikes on Wachila village in Buthidaung Township and Nakaka-5 village in Maungdaw Township on Wednesday.

Citing relatives, Mujibur said a military helicopter dropped three bombs near Wachila village, followed by two more on Nakaka-5 a few hours later.

He showed photographs that he said depicted a 13-year-old Rohingya girl seriously wounded in the attack.

Another 13-year-old, Md Sayedullah, was also critically injured, he said, adding that fresh airstrikes struck the area on Thursday.

bdnews24.com could not independently verify the images or the claims.

Rohingya refugees and camp leaders claim that besides the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, several Rohingya armed groups are active in Rakhine, including the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and Nabi Hossain's group.

Camp residents said these groups are engaged in clashes with both the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army.

A member of a Rakhine family in Bandarban said casualties among Rohingya and Rakhine civilians could be higher than reported, adding that many people had fled into forests for safety, making communication difficult.

BGB on Alert

BGB Ramu Sector Commander Col Mohammad Mohiuddin Ahmed said airstrikes in Myanmar's Rakhine State could be heard from Teknaf, prompting panic among border residents.

Citing past experience, he said major attacks in Rakhine often trigger attempts by displaced Rohingya to cross the Naf River into Bangladesh, prompting the BGB to remain on high alert.

He said the situation is being closely monitored and border security has been strengthened.

Teknaf-2 BGB Battalion Commander Lt Col Hanifur Rahman Bhuiyan said, “Patrols and surveillance have been intensified along the Naf River and the border, and the situation is under monitoring round-the-clock.”