Myanmar envoy summoned over gunfire towards Bangladesh

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Myanmar ambassador U Kyaw Soe Moe and expressed deep concern of Bangladesh at the recent incident of gunfire from Myanmar towards Bangladesh near Whykong Union of Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar.

‘Bangladesh has reminded Myanmar that the unprovoked firing towards Bangladesh is a blatant violation of the international law and a hindrance to good neighbourly relationship,’ said a foreign ministry statement issued on Tuesday.

A 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl was severely injured during the cross-border firing, it mentioned.

Bangladesh asked Myanmar to take full responsibility and requisite measures to stop such cross-border firings in future, said the statement.

Bangladesh also asked to ensure that whatever happens between the Myanmar authorities and the armed groups in Myanmar should not anyway affect lives and livelihoods of the people in Bangladesh.

The Myanmar ambassador assured that his government would take measures to stop such incidents and expressed their sincere sympathy to the injured and her family, according to the statement.

A tense situation has been prevailing in the border areas of Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar districts along Myanmar over the past few days amid airstrikes by the ruling junta in the neighbouring country and gunfights between rebel armed groups there.

On Sunday, at least three people — a 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl, Afnan, and two Rohingyas — were injured as they sustained bullet injuries along the border, and the bullets came from the conflict-ridden Myanmar side near the Whykong area under Teknaf upazila in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district.