Bangladesh on Tuesday summoned Myanmar’s ambassador to Dhaka after a 12-year-old girl was critically injured by a stray bullet that crossed the border amid heavy fighting inside Myanmar, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs said.
The foreign ministry called in Myanmar Ambassador U Kyaw Soe Moe and expressed deep concern over the incident near Whykong Union in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. Dhaka said the firing originated from clashes on the Myanmar side of the border but spilled into Bangladesh, injuring the child.
Bangladesh urged Myanmar to take responsibility and ensure that internal fighting does not affect the lives and livelihoods of people living along the border. The Myanmar envoy assured authorities that steps would be taken to prevent such incidents and expressed sympathy to the injured girl and her family.
According to police, the incident occurred during intense fighting between armed groups in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, opposite the Teknaf border area. Gunfire and explosions were reported from around 11 pm to 10 am, during which a bullet crossed into Bangladesh and struck the girl.
The child was initially taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors conducted surgery but were unable to remove the bullet. She remains in critical condition and is currently on life support in the hospital’s intensive care unit, officials told Bangladeshi news outlet the Daily Star.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@BDMOFA) January 13, 2026
Teknaf lies at Bangladesh’s southeastern tip along the Naf River, directly opposite Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The border town is located nearly 450 kilometres from Tripura’s capital Agartala and around 900 kilometres from Assam’s capital Guwahati.
Local officials said fear spread across border-adjacent villages as residents fled their homes due to prolonged gunfire. Several Rohingya individuals also crossed into Bangladesh during the clashes and were taken into custody for questioning.
Landmine Blast Injures Man Near Teknaf Border
In a separate incident a day later, a 28-year-old Bangladeshi man lost his left leg in a landmine explosion near the Teknaf border while working at a fish farm along the Naf River, police said.
The victim was thrown into the river by the blast and later rescued by fishermen. Locals alleged the mine had been planted earlier along the border area during fighting on the Myanmar side.
The explosion triggered fresh protests, with residents again blocking the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf road, demanding stronger security measures along the border.
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