Army man killed in Bandarban KNA attack

An army man was killed and two others were injured after members of Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) opened fire on the army personnel in Bandarban's Ruanchhari on Sunday, said the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a press release yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Nazim Uddin, a master warrant officer.

Some armed members of KNA opened fire around 1:00pm on an army team tasked with providing security to a free health campaign, supervised by Bangladesh Army, for mothers and children in remote hilly areas on the occasion of Independence Day and National Children's Day, said the ISPR release.

Nazim died of bullet wounds on the spot.

Son of late Shamser Ali, Nazim was from Ghaghatpara village of Rangpur Sadar upazila. He had been serving Bangladesh Army for the last 30 years with the outmost honesty, dedication and professionalism, added the release.

Army chief Gen SM Shafiuddin Ahmed offered deep condolences to the family members of the slain army man.

KNA is the armed wing of the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) that had provided arms training to members of a new militant outfit called Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya in the hilly areas of Bandarban, the release added.

ISPR said the operatives of KNA recently sought to extort money from civilian contractors, suppliers and labourers engaged in the construction of Thanchi road and later threatened to stop work.

As the work was still being carried out under the army's supervision, the KNA men kidnapped 12 workers on March 11.

Of the workers, one was shot and four were still held hostage while seven were released in exchange for ransom, the press release said.