Staff Reporter :
Residents, who are living adjacent to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, are passing their days in fear as intermittent gunshots and firing of mortar shell continued.
Though the intense firing of bullets and mortar shells has subsided, but they are expecting to stop it completely so that they can return normalcy and do their work for livelihoods.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that Bangladesh would not allow any other individuals from Myanmar and the Border Guard Police (BGP) as well as other Myanmar government officials would be sent back within one or two days.
The minister on Tuesday said that there would be no further entries into Bangladesh from Myanmar as around 1.2 million Rohingya refugees are already living in Bangladesh. “We have clearly said we already have 1.2 million Rohingyas here. Whether Rohingya or anyone else, we will not allow anyone from Myanmar to settle here,” he said.
The minister came up with the remarks while answering questions of the journalists following the inauguration of the “Highway Police Service Week-2024” at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium of Rajarbagh Police Lines.
Regarding the Myanmar individuals including the Border Guard Police (BGP) who have crossed Bangladesh border, he said, “The BGP and Myanmar government officials, and possibly a few army members, crossed into Bangladesh. Some were armed and some unarmed. But they came to save their own lives, not to fight.”
About their return to Myanmar, he said, “Hopefully, Myanmar will take back their members within one or two days. There is no conflict with us, there is no war. They are here out of self-defence.”
Meanwhile, local people in Ukhiya of Cox’s Bazar said they was a peaceful situation on Monday night in Palangkhali and Teknaf areas but they are again hearing the sounds of gunfire intermittently.
Gunfire has been heard intermittently since 7:30 am until 9am on Tuesday, they said. However, heavy gunfire and mortar shell sounds have not been heard.
On the other hand, gunfire has also been heard beyond the border of Uttarpara Union of Hwaikyang in Teknaf.
