Bandarban Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shah Mujahid Uddin on Tuesday (February 6) directed authorities concerned to shift 240 families from Naikhongchhari border area to a safer place in the wake of ongoing conflicts on Bandarban-Myanmar frontier inside Myanmar.
He made the directive while visiting Naikhongchhari border area on Tuesday afternoon in the wake of conflicts between Myanmar army and the rebel groups.
Mujahid said, “Due to the ongoing situation on Bandarban-Myanmar frontier inside Myanmar, directive has been given to shift students and 240 families living at very risky areas on the border to a safer place. At the same time, directive was given to shut the schools at frontier closed and advised all to remain alert not being panic stricken.”
The deputy commissioner and police super went to Ghumdhum union parishad after visiting Tumbru frontier point of Naikhongchhari at about 3:00pm. After sharing opinions with the local administration, they went to Jalpaitali area where he talked to the family of Hosne Ara who was killed in a mortar shell thrown from Myanmar. At the same time, he ordered to pay Tk 20,000 compensation from the administration. Later, he talked to journalists about the overall situation.
Locals said a fierce battle is going on between government troops and rebel Arakan Army at the frontier inside Myanmar. Meantime, rebels have occupied the Tumbru Right Camp of the Myanmar government forces adjacent to the border. Right now, a fierce battle is going on to take over Dhekubunie BGP Camp. The bullets and mortar shells being used by them are falling at different places of Ghumdhum area in Bangladesh flying from Myanmar.
On early Monday (February 5) afternoon, two Bangladeshi women were killed and minimum three were injured at Jalpaitola area under Ward No. 4 of Ghumdhum union in Naikhongchhari upazila. As many as 113 members of Border Guard Police (BGP) of Myanmar fled to Bangladesh being failed to sustain in battle with the rebels.
In such a situation, a shelter centre has been opened at North Ghumdhum Primary School for the Bangladesh nationals living at the border. The inhabitants of Konakpara, Jalpaitoli and Vajabunia of Ghumdum have been shifted to the shelter centre from Monday night.
Meanwhile, another Bangladeshi youth named Syed Alam, 38, was injured at Naikhongchhari in a bullet fired from Myanmar. The incident happened at Paschimkul Paharpara area if Ghumdhum union early Tuesday afternoon. Syed Alam is the son of Kader Hossain of that area.
Anwar Hossain, member of Ward No. 5 of Ghumdhum union under Naikhongchhari upazila, said locals were being given shelter at North Ghumdhum Government Primary School from Monday night.
