The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has detained an armed member of the Arakan Army who crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar through the Balukhali border in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Tuesday morning.

The detainee, identified as 21-year-old Jiban Tonchongya from Gorjbonia village in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban, admitted to being a member of the Arakan Army and sought asylum, according to BGB officials.

Lt Col Mohammad Jasim Uddin, commanding officer of BGB’s 64 Battalion, said Jiban crossed the zero line from Myanmar’s Rakhine state at around 8:45am, carrying an AK-47 rifle, 52 rounds of ammunition, and two magazines. He surrendered the weapon to BGB personnel at a Balukhali camp border outpost.

Quoting the detainee, Lt Col Jasim said roughly 300 Arakan Army fighters have recently fled their bases in Myanmar and may enter Bangladesh to surrender. Intelligence monitoring and patrols have been intensified along the battalion’s designated border zone.

The weapon has been seized, and arrangements are being made to hand Jiban over to Ukhiya police for illegal entry. “He told us he came to Bangladesh with the firearm due to personal safety concerns,” Lt Col Jasim said.

The incident comes hours after bursts of gunfire were heard across the border in Ghumdhum, Naikhongchhari upazila, on Sunday night. Local residents reported hearing shots for over two minutes from positions roughly 300 to 330 metres inside Myanmar, near border pillars 34 and 35.

BGB 34 Battalion Commanding Officer Lt Col SM Khairul Alam confirmed no bullets landed on the Bangladesh side, calling it an internal Myanmar incident. Nevertheless, BGB forces remain on heightened alert with increased patrols along the border.