Cox’s Bazar Correspondent:

The intermittent sound of explosions coming from Myanmar’s Rakhine state for the last day has spread panic among the people of Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf and its adjacent areas.

Since Tuesday morning, the sound of mortar shells and heavy firing has been heard from inside Myanmar. Residents heard the sound of explosions throughout the night in the entire upazila, including the area along the Naf River in Teknaf. Residents of the Teknaf border area said that the sound was heard intermittently till Wednesday morning. Many residents say that they have never heard such an explosion before.

Jasim, a resident of the Sabarang Nayapara area, said that the sound of explosions like thunder came from Monday night. It creates panic among people. In between two days, the situation was somewhat normal.

Md.Mokader, a resident of Jetighat said that the Teknaf Jetghat area has been trembling due to the sound of mortar shells and bullets for several months. The firing was off for some time. Since Tuesday morning, the sounds of firing have been heard again in the villages of Kadirbil, Kawar Bil, and Paranpur in the Maungdoo Township of Rakhine.

Sabrang Union Parishad Chairman, Noor Hussain said that the Sabrang area is opposite to Maungdoo township in the Rakhine state of Myanmar. The houses of the Teknaf border are shaking. People spend sleepless nights with the sound of explosions.

Jasim, a resident of the Sabarang Nayapara area, said that the sound of explosions like thunder came from Monday night. It creates panic among people. In between two days, the situation was somewhat normal.

The resident of Jetighat said. Mokader said that the Teknaf Jetghat area could not be located due to the sound of mortar shells and bullets for several months. The fire was off for some time. Since Tuesday morning, the sounds of fire have been heard again in the villages of Kadirbil, Kawar Bil, and Paranpur in the Maungdoo Township of Rakhine.

Sabrang Union Parishad Chairman Noor Hussain said the Sabrang area is opposite Maungdoo township in the Rakhine state of Myanmar. One after another, the houses of the Teknaf border are shaking. People spend sleepless nights with the sound of explosions.

Mujibur Rahman, chairman of Saint Martin Union Parishad said that the sound of explosions from Myanmar has been heard in Saint Martin since yesterday. It is believed that this attack is taking place in Kadirbil, Mongnipara and Sudapara areas of Mongdu Township in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, people in the border area said, as fighting intensified between the pro-independence Arakan Army and the army in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, many Rohingya citizens left their homes and gathered at the border to flee. However, the Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) is in a tough position.

It is known that Rohingyas have gathered around some areas including the Khayenkhali canal near Mongdu city across Naf river. The people of the border area have expressed fear that they are trying to enter Teknaf by crossing the border. From five o’clock yesterday afternoon till this morning, the sounds of mortar shells and bomb explosions are heard one after the other in the Kawerbil and Perangpuru areas of Myanmar. Fighting between the Arakan Army and government forces is intensifying in those places.

BGB has taken a strict stand to prevent Rohingyas from entering the Bangladesh border. From six to nine in the morning today, BGB is patrolling various areas including Chowdhurypara transit ghat in Teknaf, Naitong Para in Jaliapara, Keruntali, and Baraitli. No one is allowed near the border.