Child in ICU after being shot from across Myanmar border

A Bangladeshi child was critically injured after being hit by a bullet fired from inside Myanmar during cross-border clashes in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.

The incident took place around 9am on Sunday, January 10, in the Techi Bridge area of Hwaikyang union along the Bangladesh–Myanmar border.

The injured child, Afnan Araka, 11, was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors admitted her to the intensive care unit after giving emergency treatment.

Hospital director Brigadier General Mohammad Taslim Uddin said the child’s condition was critical and she was currently on life support in the ICU.

Cox’s Bazar additional superintendent of police, DSb, Alok Bishwas, confirmed that the child had been shot and said earlier reports of her death were incorrect.

Afnan is the daughter of Jasim Uddin of the same area. The identities of the other injured children could not be confirmed immediately.

According to Hwaikyang police outpost in-charge sub-inspector Khokon Chandra Rudra, heavy fighting broke out inside Myanmar near the border on Sunday morning, with both sides exchanging gunfire for about an hour. Armed group members later moved towards the zero line, triggering another round of intense shooting around 9am.

During the exchange, bullets fired from the Myanmar side struck a Bangladeshi house, injuring the child.

After the incident, police, RAB, BGB and APBn members rushed to the scene. When rumours spread that the child had died, angry villagers blocked the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf road at Techi Bridge in protest. The situation calmed down later when news spread that she was still alive.

Teknaf upazila nirbahi officer Md Imam ul Hafiz Nadim said the authorities were in constant contact with the BGB and other agencies over the situation and local residents were being advised through the union parishad to stay at a safe distance from the border.