Teknaf locals spend sleepless night as heavy firing continues in Myanmar

In the wake of clashes between government forces and the Arakan Army in Myanmar's Rakhine state, the sound of gunfire is rattling the Shapuree Dwip in Bangladesh.

People living on the island spent a sleepless night once again as heavy gunfire was heard from 9pm till midnight on Saturday. 

Several people living in the area said they could hear loud explosions and felt their houses shaking due to the sound. 

Nasir Uddin, a resident of Jalia Para adjacent to Shapuree Dwip embankment, said: "I have been hearing heavy shelling from the Myanmar border since 9pm on Friday. The sound of gunfire shook my house and the surrounding houses.”

Meanwhile, residents of Sabrang union in Teknaf upazila said they heard the sound of heavy mortar shells. The sound of explosions could be heard at regular intervals.

Bangladesh Coast Guard Chittagong East Zone Media Officer Lt Tahsin Rahman said: "In the ongoing war situation on the other side, we have strengthened patrolling in Naf River to prevent infiltration on the Shapuree Dwip through the border. No one is allowed to enter again. We have already sent back 200 infiltrators. No one will be allowed in.”

Since early February, tension has also gripped locals in Naikhongchhari Upazila of Bandarban. 

Several mortar shells fell inside the Bangladesh border, resulting in two deaths and many more injuries. After that, Bangladesh summoned the Myanmar Ambassador in Dhaka U Aung Kyaw Moe to protest the casualties due to Myanmar's internal conflicts.

The Bangladesh Ambassador in Yangon, Dr Md Monwar Hossain, also met Myanmar's foreign minister to discuss the issue.

Additionally, 23 Myanmar nationals were arrested for illegal entry into Bangladesh amid the clashes that also put the Border Guard Bangladesh on high alert.