Explosions around Naf River cause panic in Teknaf border area

Explosions were heard around two Naf river islands, Jaliadia and Laldiya, near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border area this afternoon, causing panic among local workers and traders at the Teknaf land port as well as residents of nearby Keruntoli in Teknaf Sadar union and Domdomia in Hnila union.

This development came after residents along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border endured a night of fear as mortar shell firing and bomb explosions shook Rakhine State from Saturday night until this morning.

The Teknaf land port, situated between Keruntoli and Domdomia, lies just 25-30 feet west of the Jaliadia Island, which is under Bangladeshi control. Approximately 50 feet northeast of Jaliadia lies Laldiya Island, controlled by Myanmar.

Loud explosions were heard around these two islands from around 4:30pm, lasting for over an hour, according to Nazir Ahmad, a Union Parishad member from Keruntoli, and Mohammad Ali, a Union Parishad member from Domdomia.

The sudden explosions prompted workers and traders at the port to scatter in fear, halting regular activities at the port. Nearby residents, alarmed by the sounds, rushed out of their homes, fearing further escalation.

Local representatives said the conflict across the border in Myanmar has intensified, with clashes reportedly taking place between the Arakan Army and members of the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) centring on Laldiya and Jaliadia islands.

By 5:30pm, the sounds of explosions ceased, they added.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Adnan Chowdhury said border guards and coast guard personnel are on high alert following reports of the conflicts. 

He added that the precise parties involved in the conflict remain unidentified.

Previously, on 18 September, cross-border gunfire over control of Laldiya Island struck the Teknaf land port office, a freight truck, and a local residence, causing further concern among locals.

Attempts to contact Lt Col Md Mahyuddin Ahmed, the commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion 2 in Teknaf, for comments were unsuccessful.

Earlier, residents were left unnerved as mortar shell firing and bomb explosions echoed from the Myanmar side of the Naf River, impacting areas such as Teknaf's Hnila union, Sadar upazila, and Sabrang union areas.

Witnesses also reported seeing fighter jets dropping numerous bombs on the Maung Daw area in Rakhine during the night which continued till morning.

"The situation has been terrible for the past nine months, but last night was full of horror," said Hnila Union Parishad Chairman Rashed Mahmud Ali.

Local residents, including Aman Ullah from Nhila's Domdomiya area and Abdul Hamid from Lejirpara in Sabrang, said the bombings signalled a fresh round of violence between the Myanmar Army and rebel groups following a period of relative calm. 

Describing the situation to this correspondent, resident of Teknaf's Shah Porir Dwip Md Ismail said, "Sounds of mortar explosions were coming every five minutes. As a result, we couldn't sleep out of fear."

Contacted, officials of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Coast Guard said they are on high alert so that no new Rohingya can enter Bangladesh during such a time of internal instability in Myanmar.