Myanmar’s BGP shoots Rohingya child along Tambru border

A Rohingya child was shot by Myanmar’s Border Guard Police (BGP) personnel near the no man’s land between the country’s Tambru and Bangladesh’s Konarpara border points on Thursday.

The injured was identified as Ansar Hossain, 13, son of Jamir Hossain. The family is from Raymonkhali village under Maungdaw Township in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

Ghumdum police outpost’s Inspector Emon Chowdhury said the shooting took place along the Zero Point near Konarpara border at Ghumdum in Bandarban’s Naikhongchhari upazila around 4:30pm.

Along with more than 4,000 Rohingyas, Ansar and his family has been living in the camp there since August 25 last year, when the military crackdown in Rakhine begun.

Border Guard Bangladesh’s 25th Battalion Commanding Officer Lt Col Noman Hossain said the incident took place inside the Myanmar territory near pillar No 34/1 of Naikkhongchhari border when the child reportedly went to the other side to collect firewood.

Other Rohingyas of the camp later rescued the child and took him to the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Hospital at Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox's Bazar’s Ukhiya.

Higher authorities have been informed about the incident and BGB members are on high alert in the bordering areas since then, officials said.

Meanwhile, Konarpara camp leader Dil Mohammad claimed the BGP members also fired at the other Rohingyas in the camp. “Luckily, no one else was hurt. Panic has gripped everyone living here.”

Another Rohingya leader, Abdul Halim, also voiced concern for their safety. “The BGP men had shot several rounds at some of us. We were beside the canal inside the camp, south of Konarpara.”