Myanmar reportedly breaches Bangladesh airspace

A disquieted development followed along Bangladesh’s Naikhongchhari bordering area as Myanmar’s militaries shelled bombs and fired gunshots inside Bangladesh territory, riding on helicopters, on Saturday.

Myanmar’s military forces reportedly intruded Bangladesh airspace close to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Pillar No. 33 around 8 am, according to a police source.

Two fighter planes and as many fighter helicopters of the Myanmar military trespassed into Bangladesh, shelled bombs and fired gunshots from a noticeable distance close to around 9:20 am and they threw eight to 10 shells near BOP No. 40 and 41 under Naikhongchhari BGB constituency, said a source.

While talking to Business Insider Bangladesh, Ashok Kumar Pal, additional superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations), Bandarban, said the Myanmar army has been carrying out aerial attacks against the Arakan army.

“Some shells landed near the Bangladesh border due to a mistake in the target. It was not intentional,” he said.

Responding to a query, the police officer said, “A tense situation is prevailing in the border area between the two countries but it is not a matter of concern for us.”

BGB members have been deployed in the area and kept on high alert, alongside police forces, as a precautionary measure, he said.

Besides, the general people have also been asked to stay in safe areas to avoid untoward situations, said the police official.

Earlier on August 29, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh Aung Kyaw Moe and lodged a strong protest against Myanmar’s mortar shells inside Bangladesh territory on Sunday.

Foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen said it will first be investigated whether the firing of unexploded mortar shells on the Bangladesh border was an accident or intentional.

The BGB stepped up its vigilance along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border across the Bandarban area after two Myanmar mortar shells landed in an area near Tambru under Naikkhangchhari in Bandarban on Sunday afternoon.

Locals had panicked seeing the mortar shells which remained unexploded.