Border Gunfire Leaves Class-3 Student Critically Injured in Teknaf

Md. Kamal Uddin    |    ০৩:৪৯ পিএম, ২০২৬-০১-১১

Md. Max, Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar: A child was critically injured after being struck by a bullet believed to have crossed the Myanmar border while he was playing in the yard of his home in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. The incident occurred on Sunday morning, 11 January, at Ward No. 3 of Huwaikkhong Union, sparking fear and anger among local residents. The injured child, Apna Akter, a Class-3 student of a government primary school, is the son of Jasim Uddin, a resident of the area. According to family members, Apna was playing outside when the bullet hit his head, leaving him seriously wounded. Relatives immediately rushed the child to Teknaf Sadar Upazila Health Complex for emergency treatment. As his condition remained critical, doctors later referred him to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for advanced medical care, where he is currently undergoing treatment. Following the incident, angry locals staged a spontaneous protest by barricading the road in the area. Tensions rose as demonstrators argued with members of the law enforcement agencies, demanding stronger security measures and immediate action to protect civilians living along the border. Local residents reported that intense tension has been prevailing along the Teknaf–Myanmar border for several days. According to them, exchanges of gunfire between armed groups and Myanmar security forces have been continuing intermittently for the past four days, creating a climate of fear among border communities. “The lives of innocent people, especially children, are constantly at risk,” said one local resident. Many have urged the authorities to strengthen border security, increase patrols, and take urgent diplomatic and administrative steps to prevent cross-border bullets from reaching residential areas. Confirming the incident, Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Muhammad Enamul Hafiz Nadim said that the administration is aware of the situation. He called upon local residents to remain calm and composed, assuring them that the authorities are closely monitoring developments along the border and taking necessary measures in response to the evolving situation. The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of border communities in Teknaf, where ordinary lives are increasingly disrupted by violence beyond the frontier, raising serious concerns about civilian safety and long-term security in the region.