by RK Desk
Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar | August 12, 2026
Intermittent gunfire from inside Myanmar was heard for several hours across the Bangladesh-Myanmar border near Teknaf, alarming residents of communities along the frontier.
Residents said repeated bursts of gunfire could be heard from around 11:00 p.m. on Monday, August 10, until early Tuesday morning from areas around Nappura and Korer Dwip on the Myanmar side, opposite Hnila in Teknaf.
The identities of the groups involved in the shooting have not been confirmed.
Hossain Ali, a resident of Hnila, said the sounds continued for hours.
“We heard loud gunfire from the fish-farm area on the Myanmar side,” he said. “We were frightened. Later, we learned that the shooting was taking place inside Myanmar.”
Another resident, Nazrul Islam, said gunfire was heard intermittently throughout the night, causing anxiety among people living close to the border.
Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Zahirul Islam, commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh’s 64 Battalion in Ukhiya, confirmed that BGB had received information about an exchange of fire between two groups inside Myanmar.
He said the confrontation could have involved criminal groups or the Arakan Army and another armed group, but BGB had not been able to establish the identities of those involved.
“It could be a clash between criminal groups or an exchange of fire between the Arakan Army and a criminal group. We cannot confirm the exact details,” he said.
During the gunfire, people travelling by boat from the Myanmar side also reportedly attempted to approach Bangladesh through the Korer Dwip area.
Zahirul Islam said BGB personnel fired warning shots, prompting a boat attempting to enter Bangladeshi territory to turn back.
BGB subsequently strengthened surveillance and patrols along the border amid concerns about unauthorised crossings.
No casualties on the Bangladesh side were reported in connection with the overnight shooting.
The incident comes amid continued insecurity along the Myanmar side of the border, where armed confrontations have repeatedly affected communities near the Naf River.
Earlier incidents have also demonstrated the danger posed to civilians on the Bangladesh side when fighting occurs close to the frontier. In January 2026, gunfire from fighting inside Myanmar crossed the border and struck civilians in Teknaf.
Residents of Hnila and neighbouring border communities said recurring sounds of gunfire and explosions from Myanmar continue to create fear because they often have little information about who is fighting or whether violence could spill across the border.
BGB said it was continuing to monitor the situation and had intensified border security following the latest incident.
