Bangladesh authorities and local residents are increasingly concerned about a potential influx of Muslims illegally entering the country, following a series of recent air strikes conducted against the border towns of Maungdaw and Buthidaung in Arakan State.
On July 1 and 2, air strikes targeting these towns resulted in casualties among the Muslim population.
In a related incident, an air strike near the border targeted Kyein Chaung village, killing four individuals, including a captured army captain.
The intensity of the aerial bombardment triggered widespread panic among Muslim residents in nearby Bangladeshi villages and refugee camps.
Due to the daily barrage of air strikes, local civilians are fleeing to safer areas. Consequently, many Muslims residing in the region are attempting to seek refuge by crossing over into Bangladesh.
To prevent illegal border crossings, upper authorities have heightened security measures along the Bangladesh border.
"Whenever air strikes occur, people on the other side of the border panic. We have previously observed that in such situations, many Rohingya attempt to cross the Naaf River to enter Bangladesh. To prevent these illegal entries, our forces have been placed on Maximum Alert," Colonel Mohiuddin Ahmed, the Ramu Sector Commander of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), told The Daily Star.
Experts analyze that if the intensity of the air strikes continues to escalate, a significant number of Muslim civilians could attempt to cross illegally into Bangladesh.
Photo: The Daily Star
