The Daily Star/ Bangladesh, January 28,2024

 Security along the Myanmar border has been beefed up afterthe ongoing conflict in Rakhine state of Myanmar intensified along theBangladesh border in Cox's Bazar.

Meanwhile, 34 Border Guard Bangladesh Battalion in Cox'sBazar, in a press release, said 13 mortar shells and one bullet from Myanmarwere found on Bangladesh's side of the border during the recent clash betweenMyanmar Army and Arakan Army.

The BGB has sent a letter to the BGP protesting the incident, the releasesaid signed by 34 BGB Battalion Commanding Officer Lt Colonel Saiful IslamChowdhury.

Today, BGB Director General Maj Gen AKM Nazmul Hasan visited the borderwhere the mortar shells had fallen.

He visited Palongkhali, Tumbru, and Hwaikong border outpost (BOP) andordered the troops to monitor the situation diligently and carry out theirassigned duties professionally, the press release said.

Villagers living in the areas in Cox's Bazar along Myanmar border arepassing their days in panic due to the explosions of heavy mortars and gunshotsacross the border.

2 BGB Batallion in Teknaf CO Lt Col Md Mohiuddin, "We are on alertround the clock."

Sirajul Mostafa, a UP member of Hwaikong union, said he could not sleep lastnight due to sound of explosions and gunshots.

"It seemed like the fighting was going on in our village," hesaid.

"We could not go to our farmland and prawn enclosures near the Myanmarborder," he added.

A bullet hole was found at a house in his area last night evening but no onewas injured, Sirajul said.

Adnan Chowdhury, upazila nirbahi officer of Teknaf, said he heard that abullet had pierced a house in Hwaikong and the sound of heavy gunfire andmortal shells surrounded the area.

"We will start evacuating villagers if the Border Guard instructs us inthis regard," he said.

For the past few months, the armed group Arakan Army has been rebellingagainst the Myanmar junta.