Panic across Bangladesh-Myanmar border, many leave homes for shelter

Many have even left their home for safe shelter.

Mortar shells and gunfire sounds are heard intermittently again after two days from Myanmar on the other side of Ukhiya and Teknaf of Cox's Bazar.

Panic has gripped Bangladeshis living near the Myanmar border as bullets and rockets from the on-going conflict between the junta and rebels have been hitting people, vehicles and buildings across the border.

Many have even left their home for safe shelter.

The residents of Palongkhali of Ukhiya upazila, and Whykong, Hnila and Subrang unions got panicked at the sounds of firing till 6:00am on Monday since 10:00pm on Sunday.

On the other side of Plongkhali, Whykong, Hnila and Subrang union is the Myanmar border. Sounds were not heard along this border for the last two days, that is Saturday and Sunday.

Abul Kalam, a resident of Konarpara, Tambru Bazar area of Bandarban, has been away from his family since Saturday (3 February).

The women of the family sent the children safely to a relative's house in Ghonapara, a mile away, as mortar shells and bullets hit their houses.

But he was still around to look after the domestic animals, fields and houses, Abul Kalam said.

many people of Konarpara, Hindupara, Paschimkul, Uttarpara and Madhyampara are spending their days like this.

They have sent their family members to Ukhiya in Cox's Bazar.

The people of the border area are spending their days in fear.

According to local residents, at 11:22am on Monday (5 February), the situation heated up again when the Myanmar army helicopter attacked the Arkan Army, which occupied the border security post.

Palongkhali union parishad chairman Gafur Uddin said firing has been heard since Sunday night.

Fighting between rebel group Arakan Army and the Myanmar army and Border Guard Police (BGP) has been going on along Cox's Bazar and Bandarban border since last year.

However, the residents at the border have become habituated. But they get frightened when the firing starts.

A total of 95 members of Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) have taken refuge in Bangladesh amid clashes with Myanmar's insurgent group, the Arakan Army.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have disarmed them. The injured are being treated.

BGB Headquarters Public Relations Officer Shariful Islam told TBS a total of 95 BGP members took refuge in Bangladesh from Sunday morning to Monday morning.