Firing in Ghumdhum, gunshot sounds across Teknaf's Naf River

Amid the internal conflicts in Myanmar, there were reports of indiscriminate firing from Myanmar towards the Ghumdhum border area in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban on Friday but no one was injured. Additionally, gunfire was reported across the Naf River in Teknaf.

Ghumdhum Union Parishad Chairman AKM Jahangir Aziz told TBS that people in the border areas, especially children, are terrified by the persistent sound of loud explosions and gunfire. 

A mortar shell from the Myanmar side landed in a paddy field near Tumbru Bazar in Ghumdhum around 2pm on Friday. It was discovered by a local woman.

On information, a team of 20-25 people including members of BGB-34 Batallion, police and the bomb disposal unit recovered the shell and detonated it in a safe area with a loud sound, BGB sources told TBS.

Sources said following the sound, there was gunfire targeting the Bangladesh side of the border. However, no one was reported injured.

Last Thursday morning, an unexploded RPG bomb was recovered from the side of a house in Nayapara of Ghumdhum union.

BGB Cox's Bazar Region Officer Lieutenant Colonel Aziz told TBS that sporadic clashes persist within Myanmar, leading to the sound of gunfire being heard intermittently.

Meanwhile, sounds of gunfire were heard again, across the Naf River in Whykong union of Teknaf on Thursday night.

"From evening until midnight, gunfire sounds were heard across the Naf River near Lomba beel point, Unchiprang, and Kanjar Para areas in the Whykong union of Teknaf upazila," said Nur Ahmed Anwari, chairman of Whykong union.

"However, no sounds were heard on Friday morning," he said.

Shootings and explosions have been reported in the Rahmat Beel area of Palongkhali union in Ukhiya upazila. Locals said they have seen two bodies lying along the border on Friday morning. The bodies could belong to two Rohingya youths.

Ukhiya Police Station has been informed by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) about the bodies, said Md Shamim Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of the station.

Altaj Ahmed, a member of the Palongkhali union parishad, informed TBS, "The bodies are situated directly beside the border. Today's shootings occurred in that vicinity. Consequently, it is unsafe to venture there. Therefore, no one dared to go."

330 Myanmar nationals enter Bangladesh

A total of 330 Myanmar citizens have entered Bangladesh in the last five days amid the conflict in Myanmar.

The shelter seekers from Myanmar include members of its Border Guard Police (BGP), army, customs and civilians, according to officials at BGB headquarters.

Meanwhile, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Thursday sent two Rohingyas back to Myanmar.

Meanwhile, the government relocated 100 shelter seekers staying at Tumbru of Ghumdhum union of Naikhongchhari upazila in Bandarban to Teknaf's Hnila union in Cox's Bazar on Thursday.

On 5 February, authorities relocated 180 Rohingyas of 16 families from Tumbru to Kutupalong transit camp in Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya.

Since Saturday (3 February), clashes between rebel groups and Myanmar's military junta forces have intensified near a Border Guard Police (BGP) camp close to the Bangladesh border. The area has witnessed continuous gunfire, mortar shells, and rocket explosions. 

Two individuals, one of whom was Bangladeshi, lost their lives in shelling from Myanmar in Naikhangchhari upazila of Bandarban. The deaths of these individuals heightened panic among locals along the border. 

Although shelling was intense on 5 and 6 February, the border situation appeared relatively calm on 7 and 8 February.

The Arakan Army has occupied most of Myanmar's military bases in Rakhine in the last four days, according to a report by Myanmar media outlet The Irrawaddy published in Thailand.