Heavy fighting in Myanmar raises fears of fresh Rohingya refugee influx into Bangladesh

DHAKA, Jul 3: Heavy fighting along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border has sparked fears of a new influx of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh as clashes intensify in Myanmar's western Rakhine State.

Residents in Bangladesh's Teknaf border region reported hearing loud explosions. They sustained gunfire over the past two days as Myanmar's military stepped up operations against the Arakan Army in Maungdaw, Buthidaung and nearby areas.

"The blasts were so powerful that our houses shook like an earthquake," Shah Alam, a resident of Shah Porir Dwip, told Anadolu Agency.

Authorities have not confirmed reports that hundreds of Rohingya are waiting along the Naf River to cross into Bangladesh, but officials said the situation is being closely monitored.

"The situation in Maungdaw is extremely serious. Many Rohingya are desperately searching for safe shelter," Dil Mohammad, a Rohingya community leader at Balukhali Camp-10 in Cox's Bazar, told Anadolu.

Bangladesh is already hosting more than one million Rohingya refugees who fled persecution and violence in Myanmar, including the mass exodus in 2017. Previous outbreaks of fighting in Rakhine State have also triggered smaller waves of displacement across the border.

Teknaf Upazila Executive Officer SM Anik Chowdhury said authorities had not received any confirmed reports of fresh crossings, while Border Guard Bangladesh has reinforced patrols along the Naf River and other vulnerable border points to prevent illegal entry.

The escalating conflict has also affected neighboring Thailand. Thai authorities have indefinitely closed all border crossings in Tak province after cross-border gunfire from clashes between Myanmar's military and the Karen National Liberation Army damaged homes inside Thailand. Additional troops have also been deployed to strengthen border security.