After a Myanmar ship was sighted across the Naf river on the border of Shahpari in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, loud explosions were heard.
Locals said that the ship was seen staying in the country's waters from Friday (March 29) morning to 11:00. At that time, the sound of explosion was heard intermittently, but after the ship moved, the sound of explosion increased. Similarly, in the internal conflict in Myanmar, the loud sound of gunfire was heard in the coral island of Saint Martin. Since Friday afternoon, the loud sound of this gun has been coming.
Locals said the ship was seen there for a few hours from Friday morning to 11 pm and then moved away. And since then, loud explosions have been heard on the border of Shahpari Island.
People in the border area said they heard occasional explosions from Thursday night (March 28) to Friday afternoon. But between 3pm and 4pm yesterday, more than 10 explosions were heard.
People there said that earlier on March 21, a Myanmar 'ship' was seen at the same place where such ships are not commonly seen. They said that the ship was seen in the morning after the fog cleared in the river. No one could say for sure when the ship came into the river.
Abdur Rahman of Shahpari Island said, "From Thursday morning, the explosions of shells and mortar shells were heard a little less. However, a Myanmar warship was spotted across the Naf River from Friday morning to 11:00 am. The sound of explosions has increased since it left.'
Abdus Salam, a member of the Sabrang Union Parishad, said, 'The sound of shells or mortar shell explosions had reduced since Thursday. However, around 3 o'clock on Friday, a few sounds were heard in a row.'
Rashed Mahmud Ali, chairman of Hnila Union Parishad, said, "For the last one week, the sound of gunfire has been heard on the other side of Myanmar at Teknaf border. After that, from Thursday to Friday morning, the sound of explosions is heard intermittently after a little reduction.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Teknaf 2 Battalion Commanding Officer Mohiuddin Ahmed said, 'In the morning, a large ship was seen across the Naf River in the waters of Myanmar. Whether it was a warship or some other ship could not be confirmed. But the ship left before noon.'
He said, 'But soon after the ship moved away from the Naf River border, there were occasional loud explosions coming from the other side of Myanmar opposite St. Martin Island. There is no link between the two incidents and the ongoing conflict on Myanmar's side is their internal matter. The people of Bangladesh should not be worried about this.'
Myanmar's junta forces have been fighting with the rebel Arakan Army for the past few months. The insurgents have already shown success by capturing several important areas and army posts in Rakhine State. The conflict in Myanmar is disrupting the lives of Bangladeshis living along the border.
A Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya were killed in a mortar shell blast from Myanmar in Bandarban's Ghum Dhum Union on February 5 amid ongoing fighting in the border area.