Explosions in Rakhine spark fear among frontier Bangladeshis

Explosions in Rakhine State’s Maungdaw have sparked panic among residents near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf.

Residents of Teknaf municipality, Sadar union, Sabrang union, and Shah Porir Dwip are enduring sleepless nights as the area trembled from powerful blasts heard between 4am and 11am on Saturday.

Locals said they heard the sounds of explosions on Friday as well.

During this time, warplanes were also seen flying over Myanmar skies.

Locals on the Bangladeshi side of the border believe Myanmar’s junta forces are using aircraft to bomb Arakan Army hideouts.

Nur Hossain, chairman of Sabrang Union Parishad, said, “The sound is coming from villages on the south side of Maungdaw in Rakhine. Houses in Teknaf are reverberating due to the sound of mortar shells, bombs, and powerful grenades exploding.”

He added that the ongoing situation has caused significant distress, particularly for children and the elderly.

Residents near the border said fighting was going on at Ukilpara, Foyezipara, Sikderpara, Haripara, and Fatangza areas south of Maungdaw.

“Many people are staying outside their houses in the cold, fearing explosions. The blasts are so strong that houses vibrate at regular intervals,” said Md Islam, a resident of Teknaf’s Nayapara.