A Bangladeshi schoolgirl injured by stray bullets from the Myanmar border

A 10-year-old Bangladeshi schoolgirl, Afnan, has been injured by stray gunfire originating from across the Myanmar border in Teknaf’s Hwaikyaung area of Cox’s Bazar. Afnan, the daughter of Jasim Uddin, is a fourth-grade student at Lumbabil Haji Mohammad Hossain Government Primary School.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning, 11 January, around 10:00 am. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Zahidul Islam, commanding officer of the 64th Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) battalion, confirmed the incident to the media, stating that the girl had sustained gunshot wounds due to cross-border violence.

Following the incident, local residents, enraged by the attack, blocked the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf road in protest. They staged demonstrations and demanded increased security along the border. Additional personnel from the army and law enforcement agencies have been deployed to the area to maintain law and order and to prevent further escalation.

The violence across the border is part of ongoing clashes in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where armed confrontations continue between the Arakan Army, a local insurgent group, and the Rohingya Solidarity Army (RSA). Over the past three days, heavy gunfire has been reported in areas directly opposite the Hwaikyaung border, prompting panic and fear among local populations on both sides of the frontier.

Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid venturing too close to the border, citing the risk posed by the crossfire. Meanwhile, medical teams are providing emergency care for Afnan, whose condition is reportedly stable but under observation.

The escalating tension along the Bangladesh–Myanmar border has raised serious concerns about civilian safety, particularly for children living in border communities. Local leaders are calling for urgent diplomatic engagement and reinforced security measures to prevent further incidents.

Incident Overview:

Local authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, while calls for immediate peace talks between the warring groups in Rakhine remain urgent. Residents and officials alike hope that enhanced border security can prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.