Tensions and panic have been prevailing among the villagers in three unions near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Bandarban and Cox's Bazar as fresh gunshots and shelling erupted between the Myanmar Army and Arakan Army.

Sporadic gunfire and heavy shelling were reported since Thursday midnight, our Chattogram staff correspondent and Bandarban correspondent report quoting locals.

However, no sound of heavy artillery and gunfire was heard this evening (October 1, 2022), according to locals.

According to local administration and sources, residents of 31 villages under Palongkhali, Whykhong and Ghumdhum unions which fall into Ukhiya, Teknaf and Naikhyongchari upazilas are panicked and worried following the fresh violence.

Nur Ahmed Anwari, chairman of Whykhong Union Parishad of Teknaf told The Daily Star, "The heavy shelling and firing put 500 families of three villages in fear and they were instructed to move carefully."

Naikhyongchari upazila's Ghumdhum Union Parishad Chairman Md Jahangir Aziz told this newspaper, "We heard gunshots and sounds of heavy explosion near Pillar No-39 and 40 of Tumbru borderline. Locals are picnicked due to the unrest situation since September."

Imran Hossain, UNO of Ukhiya said, "100 families have been living under three wards of Palongkhali union within 300 metres of Myanmar-Bangladesh border. The current situation put the villagers in a panic. Farmers and workers of the area are asked to stay safe."

BGB-34 Battalion Commanding Officer (CO) Col Mehedi Hasan Kabir said "We have kept our force alert and increased our patrolling on the border. The shooting and shelling occurred inside Myanmar territory so that there is nothing to be worried about."

The Myanmar security forces and the Arakan Army are fighting in the country's Rakhine state across the Ghumdhum border at Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban for more than a month. During this, mortar shells landed inside the Bangladesh territory multiple times while Myanmar army planes also violated Bangladesh's airspace.