Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Myanmar Ambassador U Kyaw Soe Moe at noon today to express serious concern over a recent incident in which gunfire from Myanmar targeted Bangladesh near Whykong Union in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. A 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl was seriously injured during the cross-border shooting, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

Bangladesh emphasized that the unprovoked attack constitutes a clear violation of international law and undermines good neighborly relations. The ministry urged Myanmar to take full responsibility and implement measures to prevent such cross-border incidents in the future, stressing that conflicts between Myanmar authorities and armed groups must not endanger the lives and livelihoods of people in Bangladesh. The Myanmar ambassador assured that his government would act to prevent such incidents and expressed sincere sympathy for the injured girl and her family.

Bangladesh shares a 271 km (168-mile) eastern border with Myanmar, which runs through forests and rivers and is largely unmarked. Villagers frequently cross the border to collect firewood or engage in small-scale trade, as has been done for generations. Myanmar has been identified as the world’s most dangerous country for landmine casualties. According to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the use of landmines in Myanmar has risen sharply, with over 2,000 casualties reported in 2024—double the previous year.

Over a million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar also live near Bangladesh’s border, caught between Myanmar’s military and separatist forces. Bangladesh authorities reported at least 28 landmine injuries in 2025, including a border guard killed in November when a mine explosion severed both his legs. While the border force has put up warning signs, red flags, and conducts regular mine-clearance operations, villagers continue to face danger, as survival often depends on entering mine-laden forests.