This afternoon Naikkongchari inhabitants found an unexploded mortar shells of 120MMU00.80’06 model, lying next to the mosque in Tambru north on Bangladesh-Myanmar border, that created panic among Rohingyas residing on no man’s land.
According to the local administration, the Myanmar army fired this mortar shell in the sleepy Tumbru North neighborhood. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) said they also heard the incident.
Ghumdhum Union Parishad Chairman AKM Jahangir Aziz said, “There was a very loud sound. For which the locals are being evacuated from there. More BGB members have been deployed,” he added.
A senior officer of BGB, who declined to be named, told media, “Myanmar army has fired heavy weapons in the Tumbru North neighborhood of Ghumdhum. We know there is a problem with their separatist group on the Myanmar border”, BGB Director (Operation) Lieut. Colonel Faizur Rahman said adding more that they are also cautious on whatever is happening inside Myanmar.
When asked whether mortar shells were fired at Tumbru Point inside Bangladesh or not, this official said, “We have heard that too. So far, information collection regarding the matter is under way.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Naikkongchari Salma Ferdous said, “Two mortar shells fell at separate places on the Uttarpara border of Tumbru, which is unexploded.”
Salma further said at first the local residents were scared, but now the situation is normal due to the activities of the BGB. No one was evacuated from the area despite being warned. However, this decision can be changed.
The Rohingyas from no man’s land expressed their grief by saying that where the Myanmar side didn’t care on firing mortar shells towards Bangladesh, they will not care to firing mortar shells on the Rohingyas living in no man’s land in the name of fighting.
A tense situation is prevailing around the area following the incident.
