Man loses leg to landmine near Teknaf border

A 28-year-old man was critically injured in a landmine explosion along the Teknaf border yesterday morning -- a day after a 12-year-old girl was hit by a stray bullet fired from across the Myanmar border.

Md Hanif, from the Lombabil area in Whykong union, lost his left leg in the blast.

Locals said the incident occurred around 10:00am. Hanif was working at a fish farm near Shahjahan Island when a sudden explosion took place on the bank of the Naf River.

He was thrown into the river following the blast and was later rescued by fishermen. His left leg was severed in the explosion, they said.

According to locals, the mine was planted along the border area by the Arakan Army, an armed insurgent group active in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

Hanif was initially taken to MSF Hospital in Kutupalong, Ukhiya. Later, he was shifted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

Local student leader Saiful Islam Shakil said that stray bullets crossed into Bangladesh amid clashes on the Myanmar side on Sunday, leaving several people, including a child, injured. 

“Due to security concerns, no one has gone to the fish farms since Sunday. When people resumed work on Monday, thinking the situation had calmed, the tragic incident occurred.”

Whykong Police Outpost in-charge Khokon Kanti Rudra said a youth lost his left leg while working at the fish farms near the Naf River area. “We are looking into the matter.”

Attempts to contact officials of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were unsuccessful, as they did not receive phone calls.

Protesting the incident, locals again blocked the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Road yesterday. 

The day before, a bullet fired from Myanmar hit a house in the Techchhi Bridge area of Whykong union, injuring a child named Huzaifa Afnan, 12. Rumours of her death sparked tension in the area, prompting locals to block the road.

Later, it was confirmed that Huzaifa was alive and had been admitted to the ICU of Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Her uncle Mohammad Shawkat said her condition remains critical.

Doctors conducted a CT scan late Sunday night and later performed surgery. However, they were unable to remove the bullet, he said.

Shawkat said doctors told the family that the child’s condition is extremely critical and that the bullet is lodged inside the head. Attempting to remove it at this stage could be life-threatening.

In December 2024, the Arakan Army claimed to have taken control of almost the entire 271 kilometres of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Rakhine State. Since then, tension and security risks have been rising along the Teknaf border.

For the last few days, the Arakan Army and Rohingya armed groups have been engaged in fierce fighting across the border of Teknaf.