Naikhongchhari Correspondent

Three people were injured in separate landmine explosions near the Naikhongchhari Upazila’s border with Myanmar in Bandarban on January 24.

The incidents occurred near pillars 47, 48, and 49 in the Fultali and Ashartali border areas, according to Naikhongchhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Muhammad Mazharul Islam Chowdhury and Naikhongchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Masrurul Haque.

The three injured have been identified as Ali Hossain, 36, son of Md Hossain from Ashartali area of Naikhongchhari Sadar Union; Arif Ullah, 32, son of Jafar Alam from Lamutali area; and Rashedul Islam Rasel, 25, son of Mujibur Rahman from Lembuchhari area of Duwchari Union.

UNO Mazharul said the three individuals were rescued and sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for treatment after the explosions happened at different times in the morning.

Shamsul Alam, a former member of Sadar Union’s Ward 9, said that all three men had illegally entered Myanmar to bring back cattle when they accidentally triggered landmines planted by the Arakan Army and Myanmar military and got severely injured.

He said the first explosion occurred at 6am injuring Ali, the second left Arif injured at 10am, and Rasel was injured in the third at 10:30am. Locals rescued them and rushed them to the hospital.

Naikhongchhari police Masrurul, citing local sources, confirmed Shamsul’s remarks.

According to locals, Ali’s left leg was severed in the first mine explosion and Arif sustained injuries on his face in the second explosion. Information regarding Rasel’s injuries was not available.

The commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh’s (BGB) Naikhongchhari-based Battalion 11 was unavailable for comments.