Teknaf-Naikhyangchhari Border Shaken by Intense Shelling

Heavy explosions and gunfire from Myanmar’s Rakhine State once again reverberated across the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban districts. According to local residents, Saturday night witnessed relentless aerial bombardments and mortar shelling, leaving thousands of people in Teknaf, Ukhiya, and Naikhongchhari Union terrified. The deafening blasts shook border villages, though fortunately no ordnance reportedly crossed into Bangladeshi territory.

Sirajul Mostofa, a ward member of Hwaikong Union Parishad in Teknaf, confirmed to Prothom Alo that intermittent mortar and bomb explosions were heard from 11:00 pm Saturday until 3:00 am Sunday. “Some areas of the Hwaikong border literally shook, and residents were gripped by fear,” he said.

Local representatives reported that the sound of the blasts was heard across multiple villages in Ukhiya’s Palongkhali and Rajapalong Unions, Teknaf’s Hwaikong Union, and Naikhongchhari’s Ghumdhum Union. Many residents took to social media to express their concern.

According to multiple border sources, Myanmar’s ruling forces launched a sudden air strike at 11:00 pm on Saturday targeting the positions of the Arakan Army, the dominant armed group in Rakhine. The Arakan Army retaliated, and the shelling continued well into the early hours. The explosions were visible from Balibazar, located approximately 15 km east-southeast of border pillar BRM-18 and 13 km inside Myanmar from the zero line. Balibazar houses the Arakan Army’s headquarters, opposite which lie Teknaf’s Hwaikong and Ukhiya’s Palongkhali Unions.

Lieutenant Colonel Jasim Uddin, commander of the 64 BGB Battalion in Ukhiya, told reporters that explosions were confined to Myanmar’s territory, and no damage occurred on the Bangladeshi side. The BGB remains on high alert along the Naf River and border areas, closely monitoring developments.

Local businessman Borhan Uddin of Rahmat’s Bill village recounted, “The blasts began around 11:00 pm, shaking the entire locality. Residents were terrified.” Similar reports emerged from Naikhongchhari’s Ghumdhum, Tumbru, Pathorkata, and Chakma Para border areas. Teknaf’s Ulubonia, Kharangkhali, Hwaikong, Lombabil, and Techchi Bridge regions, as well as Ukhiya’s Anjuman Para, Nolbunia, Rahmat’s Bill, and Dhamnkhali, also reported hearing the explosions.

Border sources highlighted that sporadic shelling has occurred in Rakhine since 13 December, with some shells landing near Bangladeshi homes, fish farms, and rice fields. On 17 December, gunfire from across the border persisted for hours. In addition, three Rohingya armed groups—Arakan Salvation Army (ASA), Arakan Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (ARSO), and Rohingya Nabi Hossain Force—remain engaged in combat with the Arakan Army.

Explosion Reports by Area (Summary Table):