Mortar shell from Myanmar kills 2 including a Bangladeshi

Desk Report

Publisted at 4:40 PM, Mon Feb 5th, 2024

Two individuals, including a Bangladeshi national, were killed this afternoon following the detonation of heavy mortar shells, reportedly fired from Myanmar, within Bangladesh on the Ghumdum border in Bandarban.

At approximately 2:20 pm, an explosion occurred as a mortar shell struck an under-construction house in Jolpaichari village situated in Bandarban's Naikhongchhari upazila.

The deceased were identified as the house owner, Hosneara Begum, 60, the wife of local market trader Badshah Mia, and a Rohingya laborer who was working on-site, Ghumdum Union Parishad Member Shafikul Islam said.

Earlier, one person was injured in Tumbru due to firing from Myanmar. Additionally, a house on the border of Baishphandi caught fire.

Officials have reported intense fighting, and there are concerns about the use of army helicopters strafing rebel fighters, heightening worries of substantial casualties. According to international media accounts, multiple insurgent groups, some of which have formed alliances, are engaging the government army in various regions of Myanmar.

Amidst the conflict, at least 95 Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) personnel have entered Bangladesh till Monday (5 February) morning and took shelter as refugees.

Meanwhile, across the Ghumdhum border of Naikhongchhari Upazila, shelling began on Saturday night inside Myanmar and has continued since. Hundreds of families in Tumbru, Konarpara, Bhajabaniya, and Baishphandi areas of Ghumdhum Union are fleeing to seek safe shelter wherever possible.

In response to security concerns, the Bandarban District Commissioner (DC) Shah Mujahid Uddin has issued directives to halt operations at five government primary schools and restrict transportation along various roads near the Ghumdhum-Tumbru border of Naikhongchhari Upazila.

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