SSC exam centre cancelled as fighting continues in Myanmar

Intermittent gunshots inside Myanamar continued to rattle the citizens of Bangladesh on Monday in the border districts of Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar.

The authorities shifted the SSC examination centre of Ghumdhum High School in Naikhongchari border of Bandarban to two government primary schools three kilometers away due to security risks caused by the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, Sreegyan Tanchangya, judge of Cox's Bazar senior judicial magistrate court granted a three-day remand for 22 out of 23 armed Rohingyas.

Locals and public representatives detained the Rohingyas on 6 February as they entered Bangladesh through Rahmater Beel border. The locals handed them over to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members.

BGB member were seen patrolling on speed boats in the Naf river to dispel any attempt of Rohingyas to enter Bangladesh. Chattogram divisional commission Md Tofail Islam and Chattogram range police deputy inspector general (DIG) Nure Alam Mina visited the Ghumdhum border area yesterday.

While speaking with journalists, DIG Nure Alam said no Rohingys sans the arrested 23 entered Bangladesh. The case filed over the infiltration is being investigated with top priority.

A fierce clash has been going on between Myanmar’s Border Guard Police (BGP) and insurgent Arakan Army since 2 February.

Locals saw black smoke billowing from Kumirkhali border outpost area on the other side of Lomba beel in Teknaf’s Whykyong and Dhekibonia outpost on the other side of Ghumdhum border in Naikhongchhari yesterday afternoon.

BGB and Coast Guard members were seen on alert in the area. Intermittent gunshots were heard coming from Kumirkhali, Shilkhali and Bolirbazar areas.

Dhekibonia area is situated just on the other side of Mangalpara-Noyapara area of Ghumdhum union. There is a border outpost and battalion headquarters of BGP in the area. Smoke was seen in this area. Smoke was also spotted in Kumirkhali where BGP has a border outpost. Several hundred Rohingyas live in this area.

Locals said Rohingyas are trying to enter Bangladesh illegally due to the ongoing clash  in Myanmar.

Public representatives of Naikhongchhari, Ukhiya and Teknaf are gathering information of Myanmar through different sources.

Ghumdhum union parishad’s chairman Jahangir Aziz said, “We suspect some outposts of Myanmar BGB have been torched. But we are not sure if the Arakan Army or any other group did it.”

Meanwhile, the authorities cancelled Ghumdhum high school’s SSC examination centre due to security concern of 463 examinees. The students of this center will now sit for exams at No 1 Ghumdhum Uttar Government Primary School and No 2 Uttar Ghumdhum Government Primary School. 

Chattogram divisional commissioner Md Tofail Islam revealed this information to journalists after visiting Naikhongchhari and Ukhiya border areas yesterday.

Students and guardians heaved a sigh of relief due to the decision of changing the SSC examination centre which is 1.5 kilometers away from Myanmar border.

Manik Chakrabarty, father of an examinee named Lokkhi Chakrabarty, said, “We are relieved due to cancellation of the Ghumdhum high school examination center.”