Fisherman loses leg in landmine blast near Myanmar border

TEKNAF CORRESPONDENT

A Bangladeshi fisherman lost his right leg in a landmine explosion while fishing near the Myanmar border on Sunday.

The victim, Firoz Alam, 30, is the son of Md Ali Ahmed from the Amtali area of Teknaf’s Hwaikong union.

The explosion occurred around noon at Totar Island, located approximately 100 yards inside Myanmar territory from the zero line and about 1.5 kilometres southeast of Border Reference Marker 18, said Lt Col Mohammad Jasim Uddin, commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh Battalion-64.

Firoz stepped on a landmine believed to have been buried in the area, Lt Col Jasim said.

Local residents helped rescue the injured man and brought him back into Bangladesh through the BM Post. He was first taken to the MSF hospital in Ukhiya’s Kutupalong and later referred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

As of filing this report, his condition remained critical.