Voice 9, Dhaka Bureau: Two people have been killed in mortar shelling from Myanmar on the Tumbru border of Bandarban. Among the deceased are a Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya youth.
The incident occurred in the Jalpaiguri area of Tumbru border upazila at 2 p.m. on Monday, February 5.
The name of the Bangladeshi deceased is Asma Khatun (55). She was the wife of Badsha Mia of the Jalpaiguri area of the Tumbru border. However, the identity of the deceased Rohingya youth is not known.
Dil Mohammad Bhutto, a member of Ward 2 of the Ghumdhum Union, confirmed the matter. He said that a woman and a Rohingya youth were killed in a mortar shelling in Ward 4 of the union.
The situation in the border area has been tense since Saturday. Locals are leaving the area for safety, he added.
Extensive shelling has started in Ukhia's Palangkhali and Teknaf's Hwaikhyang areas since yesterday and the day before yesterday. Locals have reported that this morning at 10 o'clock, a Rohingya family was detained by the BGB from the Ukhia border.
According to local sources, bullets are being fired from helicopters on the roads. It is believed that the government forces are launching an attack to recover the infiltrated area. Locals have been forced to leave their homes due to intense shelling in the border areas.
If a Rohingya family enters Bangladesh from the Ukhia border after crossing the border from Myanmar around 11 a.m., BGB members keep them detained. They have three children with them besides the husband and wife.
Jalal Ahmed of the Hwaikhyang area said, "We are hearing extensive shelling and bomb blasts from Myanmar across the border at 10 o'clock in the morning. People are leaving the border in fear. Many are not coming out of their homes."
Ashraful Islam of the Ghumdhum area said, "Yesterday, people from three villages left the area due to extensive shelling. Shelling has started again since morning."
Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Mahiuddin Ahmed, the 2nd in command of Teknaf 2 BGB, said, "We are in a state of alertness in the border area."
