Teknaf border tense over Myanmar armed conflict

COX'S BAZAR, Jan 13: The ongoing armed conflict inside Myanmar has had a direct and devastating impact on Teknaf border inside Bangladeshs area, pushing local livelihoods into deep uncertainty. Fear and insecurity have brought daily life to a standstill, leaving farmers, fishermen, and laborers unable to carry out their work.

Residents living along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border say they are no longer able to visit their farmlands, shrimp enclosures, or the Naf River for fishing due to constant fear of cross-border gunfire.

Their collective question remains the same: When will this fear and uncertainty finally end?

The Lamburbil area of Teknaf upazila, once bustling with agricultural and fishing activities from early morning, now appears eerily deserted. Fields lie uncultivated, shrimp farms unattended, and fishing boats absent in the river. The atmosphere has turned calm and quiet as violence continues across the border.

Locals allege that whenever fighting intensifies inside Myanmar, stray bullets and mortar shells often land inside Bangladeshi territory, putting border villages at constant risk. As a result, normal life has come to a halt, and children's education has been severely disrupted.

Foyez Ahmed, a resident of the Teknaf border area, said, "Because of the gunfire in Myanmar, I cannot go to my fields. Fishing in the Naf River has also become extremely risky. If this situation continues, it will be impossible to support my family." Another local resident, Abul Kashem, shared his fear: "We even fear to step outside our homes. With gunfire happening so close, it feels like a bullet could strike us at any moment."

Manik Mia, another border resident, said the ongoing violence has forced families to keep their children at home. "The sound of gunfire terrifies our children. We have stopped sending them to school, as their safety is our biggest concern."

According to locals, armed conflict has persisted inside Myanmar for nearly two years.

Although there were brief periods of calm, violence has repeatedly resumed, placing thousands of

people in at least three border unions of Teknaf at constant risk.

Local social worker Arif Hossain noted that the border region has numerous shrimp farms, agricultural lands, and salt fields, all of which now remain inaccessible due to ongoing violence.

"Between the Rohingya crisis and the clashes involving the Myanmar junta and the Arakan Army, the lives of border residents have become increasingly uncertain," he said.

In response to the situation, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has remained on the highest level of alert along the Teknaf border.

Security patrols have been intensified, with round-the-clock monitoring through modern surveillance drones. Additional vigilance has been imposed along border roads and embankment areas.

Ramu Sector Commander of BGB, Colonel Mahiyuddin Ahmed, said, "The situation is currently under control. BGB remains on maximum alert, and local residents have been advised to stay cautious. We are hopeful that the situation will improve further."

On Sunday (January 11), BGB detained 53 members of a Rohingya armed group who fled into Bangladesh after failing to withstand an attack by the Arakan Army inside Myanmar.

The detainees were later handed over to the police following preliminary interrogation. Authorities have further strengthened coordinated surveillance by law enforcement agencies to prevent

infiltration and address any security threats.

The local administration has advised residents to avoid unnecessary movement in high-risk border areas. While the end of the conflict across the border remains uncertain, residents of Teknaf continue to demand urgent diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives to ensure their safety and restore normal life.

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