BANGLADESH’S frontiers with Myanmar have been tense for a few days as the Myanmar ruling junta has carried out airstrikes inside its territory amidst conflicts between three ethno-nationalist armed organisations, reportedly the Arakan Army, the Arakan Salvation Army and the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation. What is concerning in this is that three Bangladeshis were wounded in the Howaikyang area of Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar with bullets crossing the border into Bangladesh during gunfights on January 11. The Bangladeshi girl who was hit in the ear was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital and the Rohingyas who were wounded were taken to Cox’s Bazar General Hospital. Bangladesh border guards say that 53 Rohingyas crossed the border into Bangladesh and they all were detained from various points. The Border Guard Bangladesh further says that whilst the gunfight between the armed groups and airstrikes by the junta have continued for a few days, the firing was not targeted. But whatever the case is, the episode has panicked people living along the frontiers and Bangladesh authorities have asked people not to go near the border and fisherfolk not to go fishing in the River Naf.
The firing of gunshots from inside Myanmar into Bangladesh at Teknaf is as worrying as the violation of the Bangladesh territory by Myanmar that took place earlier. The Myanmar navy on October 9, 2024 shot into Bangladesh fishing boats, leaving one fisher, an inhabitant of Shah Pari Island at Teknaf, dead and two of his fellows wounded. This is not the first time. Firing from inside Myanmar into Bangladesh hit a window glass of the land port office, a truck and a tree on September 18, 2021. Myanmar that month in 2021 fired three mortar shells inside the Bangladesh territory in the Tambru border in Bandarban, leaving a young man dead and six others wounded. Myanmar fired two mortar shells 120 metres inside Bangladesh earlier that month. It also fired mortar shells inside Bangladesh twice in August 2021. The firing inside Bangladesh took place when the military in Myanmar is reported to be fighting with various groups or various groups are reported to be fighting one another inside its territory. Because of conflicts that go on in Myanmar, gunshots could be regularly heard in bordering areas of Teknaf and Ukhiya on several occasions.
All that Myanmar does could also be an effort to create a fearful situation in its own territory and to jeopardise any effort for the repatriation of the Rohingyas. The situation is worrying. Bangladesh authorities should, therefore, double up their efforts bilaterally and regionally to stop Myanmar from violating the Bangladesh territory. The authorities should also take up the issue with the United Nations, if required, for a resolution as this is an issue of Bangladesh’s sovereignty.
