A seven-year-old Bangladeshi child has been killed and several others injured after gunfire erupted during clashes between the Arakan Army and Rohingya armed groups across the Myanmar border in Teknaf’s Whykong area.

According to Sub-Inspector Khokon Chandra Rudra, officer-in-charge of the Whykong police outpost, the incident took place at around 9 a.m. near the Techibridge border area of Teknaf’s Whykong union. The deceased child, identified as Afnan, daughter of local resident Jasim Uddin, was struck by bullets fired from the Myanmar side.

SI Khokon explained that the intense fighting broke out inside Myanmar between the Arakan Army and Rohingya armed factions. The gunfire lasted for at least an hour. At one point, Rohingya fighters retreated toward the zero line on the border and took defensive positions, which led to renewed clashes around 9 a.m.

“During the exchange, bullets crossed the border and hit a residential home on the Bangladeshi side, fatally wounding the child,” SI Khokon said.

Law enforcement agencies including police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and the Ansar-VDP Battalion (APBn) rushed to the scene following reports of the incident. However, officials were unable to reach the exact location immediately due to agitated local residents gathering and obstructing their access.

According to a report from Dhaka Stream, the body of the deceased child remains at the family home as authorities continue to manage the tense situation along the border.

No details have been released yet regarding the identities or conditions of the injured individuals.

The incident highlights the ongoing volatility along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, where clashes between armed groups have increasingly put civilian lives at risk. Local authorities are urging calm and increased vigilance as investigations continue.

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