Residents of border areas in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas of Cox’s Bazar were gripped by panic overnight as heavy shelling and explosions were heard from across the Bangladesh–Myanmar border amid ongoing clashes between the Arakan Army and Myanmar’s junta forces in Rakhine State.
Locals living along the border reported hearing repeated loud explosions throughout the night, forcing many families to remain awake in fear. According to a Dhaka Tribune report, the fighting intensified in Maungdaw township, close to the Bangladesh frontier, raising concerns among border communities.
Palongkhali Union Parishad Chairman Gafuruddin Chowdhury said residents were alarmed after hearing shelling sounds again following a prolonged lull. He said the explosions were particularly intense in areas such as Rahmat Bill, Anjuman Para, Balukhali, Norbonia and Damankhali, adding that locals also reported seeing fighter jets near the border.
Residents said explosions were heard intermittently throughout the night, while fighter jets were visible for extended periods in the sky. The clashes reportedly occurred in the Bolibazar area of Maungdaw, about 15 kilometres east-southeast of border pillar BRM-18 and around 13 kilometres inside Myanmar territory.
Ukhiya resident Md Imran said many people were unable to sleep due to the intensity of the explosions, although no gunfire was heard on Sunday morning. He expressed concern that renewed military attempts to reclaim areas under Arakan Army control could further destabilise the border situation.
Whykong Union Parishad Ward No 2-member Sirajul Mostafa Lalu said sudden explosion-like sounds caused widespread panic among residents, many of whom stayed awake throughout the night fearing spillover violence.
Locals said that over the past month, bullets fired from across the border have landed in villages in the Whykong area at least four to five times. Another resident, Azmat Ullah, said the force of the explosions caused doors and windows to shake, prompting families to flee their homes temporarily.
Lieutenant Colonel Jasim Uddin, commander of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion-64 in Ukhiya, said the explosion sounds originated from inside Myanmar near the Whykong BOP area. He stressed that the incidents occurred well within Myanmar territory and said there was no immediate cause for panic, adding that BGB personnel remain on high alert.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Emamul Hafiz Nadim said residents along the border had been advised not to panic and confirmed that all law enforcement agencies were maintaining heightened vigilance.
Earlier, on December 13, bullets fired during nearly six hours of gunfire and mortar shelling from across the border reportedly landed in homes in border villages, underscoring growing security concerns for communities along the Bangladesh–Myanmar frontier.
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