Rohingya refugee severely injured in landmine blast
Explosion near Bangladesh frontier highlights continuing dangers faced by displaced Rohingya fleeing conflict and militarization
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — A Rohingya refugee was seriously injured in a landmine explosion near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on Sunday, underscoring the continuing dangers faced by displaced civilians living along one of Southeast Asia’s most volatile frontier regions.
The victim, identified as 27-year-old Salman, is a resident of Camp-10 in Ukhiya, a sprawling refugee zone in southeastern Bangladesh that hosts thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled violence in neighboring Myanmar.
Local residents said the explosion occurred around 9:30 a.m. near the Katapahar border area inside Myanmar, close to the frontier adjacent to Bangladesh.
According to community members, Salman reportedly stepped on a landmine, triggering a powerful blast that left him with severe injuries to multiple parts of his body. He was later rushed for emergency medical treatment.
The incident has renewed fears among Rohingya civilians living near the border, where armed conflict, militarization and landmine contamination continue to pose major risks years after the mass displacement crisis that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee Myanmar.
Bangladesh currently hosts more than one million Rohingya refugees, most of whom escaped military crackdowns in Myanmar’s Rakhine State beginning in 2017. United Nations investigators and human rights organizations have previously described the Myanmar military campaign against the Rohingya as bearing “genocidal intent.”
Despite living in refugee camps inside Bangladesh, many Rohingya remain vulnerable to cross-border violence due to the camps’ proximity to conflict-hit areas near Myanmar’s western frontier.
Residents and aid workers have repeatedly warned that unexploded ordnance and landmines scattered across border routes continue to threaten civilians, particularly refugees moving through remote or heavily forested zones.
The risks have grown further as fighting between Myanmar’s military junta and armed groups intensified in areas near the Bangladesh border following the 2021 military coup in Myanmar.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
