Clashes erupted in the refugee camps of no-man’s land area in Taimbru as Myanmar soldiers attempted to cross their border fence. At around 7pm, soldiers placed ladders on the border fences marking Myanmar territory and attempted to enter the refugee camps, following a day of continuous threats that the refugees will be killed if they do not leave the area.
The soldiers were initially driven back by brickbats thrown by the retreating Rohingyas. Soldiers then fired shots at the refugees, at least one of which hit a makeshift camp house. A huge force of Myanmar soldiers have been mobilising in the border area ignoring protests by the Bangladesh government. Following the arrival of a huge number of Bangladeshi locals, many of them armed with sticks, the soldiers however did not cross Myanmar territory but assumed aggressive positions on their side of the fence.
Since the last few weeks, there has been tensions in the no-man’s land area as Myanmar mobilised a huge number of forces including regular soldiers who are generally not present at the border during peace time. Today’s incursion took place hours after the Bangladesh foreign ministry handed over a protest note citing the presence of a strong Myanmar armed force at the region.
Most of the Rohngyas residing in the no-man’s land area has been forced to cross the stream into Bangladesh territory as the Myanmar army presence continued to increase with nightfall.
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