179 Myanmar border guards take refuge in Naikhongchhari

Amid reports of heavy gunfights between Myanmar's government troops and rebels, 179 personnel of the country's Border Guard Police (BGP) took refuge in Naikhongchhari of Bandarban today (11 March).

Shariful Islam, communication officer of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), confirmed the matter to The  Business Standard.

On the same day, a man in Naikhongchhari was hurt by a shot reportedly fired from Myanmar. The injured, Saber Ahmad, is a member of Ward-8 of Naikhongchhari Sadar Union Parishad.

Saber was talking to locals near Jamchari Mosque in the border area around 4pm today when a bullet from across the border hit him in the waist, local sources say.

He was immediately taken to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, he added.

Naikhongchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Mannan could not be reached over the phone for a comment regarding the matter.

Earlier this afternoon, Shariful Islam told TBS that 29 armed BGP members sought refuge in Bangladesh from Angthapaya Camp of the BGP force through the border area of Bandarban's Jamchari union under Naikhongchhari BGB's Battalion 11.

"Upon receiving the information, several BGB teams reached the spot and initiated the process of disarming the BGP personnel," he added.

However, the BGB has not yet commented on the arrival of the other 146 BGP personnel in Bangladesh.

Nurul Abser, chairman of Naikhongchhari Sadar Union Parishad, said the armed BGP personnel crossed the border between pillars 45-46 of Jamchari ward-8 around 12:30 pm and took shelter in a lemon orchard.

He added that people living in the Jamchari border area reported intense fighting and sounds of mortar explosions since this morning.

Rebel factions in the Arakan state have been engaged in clashes with Myanmar's military junta since 3 February. Persistent gunfire, mortar shells, and rocket explosions have marked the ongoing conflict.

Last month, over 300 BGP personnel took shelter in Bangladesh following similar clashes. They were later officially sent back to Myanmar by the Border Guard Bangladesh.