Residents of the border areas in Cox's Bazar, including Subrang, Naya Para and Shah Porir Dwip, have once again reported hearing loud explosions emanating from Mongdu city in Myanmar's Rakhine State, reports bdnews24.com.
The blasts have caused widespread fear and anxiety among locals near the Teknaf border in Cox's Bazar.
On Friday morning, Abul Faiz, a Union Parishad (UP) member from Subrang Union's Ward 5, said that the explosions, originating Mongdu, had started Thursday evening and continued throughout the night. The last such incident occurred on Nov 28.
Abu Taleb, a resident of Market Para near Shah Porir Dwip's border, said that the sounds were likely the result of heavy fighting between Myanmar's government forces and the Arakan Army in Rakhine.
"The explosions were so loud last night [Thursday] that it was impossible to sleep," he said, adding that the noises were probably from mortar shells and bombs.
Kala Mia, a resident of Zalia Para on Shah Porir Dwip, recalled, "During the Isha prayer, the whole mosque shook from the sound of bombs. I've never heard gunfire like that before."
Rezaul Karim Rezu, a UP member from Subrang's Ward 8, noted that the explosions and gunfire from Mongdu city have become a frequent occurrence. "The loud noises shake residents' homes, and people can't sleep peacefully," he said. "The border people live in constant fear, especially the children and the elderly."
Enamul Haque, an assistant teacher at Shah Porir Dwip Government Primary School, said, "The ongoing crisis in Myanmar has forced people here to live in constant anxiety. During the day, it's somewhat bearable, but at night, the fear escalates."
"It feels like bombs are being dropped from warplanes, though there are concerns about whether they are crossing our airspace."
Many border residents and Myanmar's forcibly displaced Rohingya population sheltering in Bangladesh have relatives in Rakhine State, and they sometimes receive information about the conflict.
Based on such reports, Abdul Amin, a resident of the Teknaf Rohingya Camp, said, "The Arakan Army has been fighting Myanmar's junta forces for over nine months in Rakhine. During this time, the Arakan Army has captured several border posts from Myanmar's Border Guard Police around Mongdu. Now, Myanmar's military and BGP are attempting to reclaim these posts."
