Gunfight Rages along Myanmar Border

A gunfight broke out between members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and drug peddlers along the Bangladesh-Myanmar frontier in Ukhia upazila of Cox’s Bazar district on Tuesday, reports UNB.

However, no casualties were reported in this connection.

M Gafur Uddin, chairman of Palangkhali union under the upazila, said two Myanmar nationals intruded into Bangladesh territory through the border on Tuesday afternoon.

A patrol team of the BGB halted them and interrogated them about their intrusion, he said, adding that a group of terrorists numbering 20 to 30 opened fire on the BGB personnel from the Myanmar side during the interrogation.

BGB retaliated with bullets, resulting in a gunfight that lasted for around 15 minutes, the chairman claimed.

On the other hand, a BGB press release quoting BGB-34 Commandant Colonel Mohammad Saiful Islam Chowdhury said that two groups of criminals traded bullets over drug peddling in Hajjir Bari area of Rahmat Bhil.

Upon hearing the gunfight, a patrolling team of the BGB took a strategic position in the area while the criminals opened fire on the BGB personnel sensing their presence, it said.

The BGB members retaliated with the bullets for the sake of lives and properties, the release said, adding that the criminals were forced to step back due to strict action from the Bangladesh side.

The BGB received no casualty or damage in the gunfight while the border forces were kept on high alert there.

Apart from this, surveillance by intelligence was beefed up on the border, it added.