The quiet morning in Whykong union, Teknaf, was shattered when an 11-year-old girl was hit by a stray bullet, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by communities along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
Tanzina Afrin, daughter of Jashim Uddin, was in the Lamba Beel area around 7:00am on Sunday when a bullet hit her on the head. The round is believed to have crossed into Bangladesh during a gunfight in neighbouring Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where clashes were taking place between the Arakan Army and a separatist group.
Md Saiful Islam, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station, said the injury was caused by stray gunfire originating from across the border amid the ongoing conflict.
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As panic spread in the locality, family members and neighbours rushed Tanzina to hospital. She was later transferred to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital for advanced treatment, according to additional superintendent of Cox’s Bazar Police Alak Biswas.
Security forces, including members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the Bangladesh Army and local police, moved to the area soon after receiving information about the incident.