Myanmar Border: Tension over ‘firing, flying of chopper’

Myanmar forces yesterday allegedly fired several shots that hit different hilly areas of Ghumdhum union of Bandarban's Naikhongchhari upazila.

However, none was hurt in the incident, said villagers.

In another incident, a Myanmar helicopter intruded around 300 to 400 yards into Bangladeshi airspace near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border several times.

These incidents occurred near Baishfari border between 11:00am and 2:00pm yesterday, said Md Jahangir Aziz, chairman of Ghumdhum Union Parishad.

"Locals saw a Myanmar helicopter intruding into Bangladeshi airspace several times. But no shot was fired from it.

"Rather, several shots were fired from Myanmar at that time. Some bullets hit hilly areas in our union," said the UP chairman.

He said Border Guard Bangladesh teams beefed up patrols in the area.

Jahangir said villagers have been hearing sounds of massive firing in Myanmar over the last two weeks.

Contacted, BGB headquarters Director (operation) Lt Col Faizur Rahman said they heard about the incidents from different sources and that they were working to collect more information on those.

He said details on the incidents would be shared with the media later.

A foreign ministry official told The Daily Star that they received information from BGB that a Myanmar helicopter was seen flying in Myanmar's airspace along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

The official said they would discuss the matter today and decide the next course of action.

Earlier on August 28 afternoon, two mortar shells from Myanmar landed in Ghumdhum union along Tumbru border.

The Bangladesh foreign ministry on Monday summoned Myanmar Ambassador Aung Kyaw Moe to its office and lodged a strong protest over the incident.

The BGB stepped up vigilance along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Bandarban after the incident.