Bandarban, Bangladesh, Jan 6: Landmines linked to Myanmar’s prolonged internal conflict are inflicting severe harm on civilians living along the Bangladesh–Myanmar frontier, with villagers continuing to lose limbs and livelihoods while carrying out everyday survival activities.
The 271-kilometre eastern border, which runs through dense forests and riverine terrain, remains largely unmarked. Residents who have crossed the frontier for generations to collect firewood, graze cattle or trade informally now face deadly risks, as landmines have transformed forests, farmlands and footpaths into hazardous zones.
Bangladesh authorities accuse Myanmar’s military as well as armed non-state groups operating near the border of planting the explosives. Police records show that at least 28 people were injured by landmines in 2025, underscoring the growing civilian toll.
In November 2025, a member of Bangladesh’s border security force was killed after a landmine explosion severed both his legs, highlighting the threat not only to civilians but also to security personnel.
According to international monitoring groups, Myanmar has become the most dangerous country globally for landmine casualties. Data from humanitarian organisations indicates that over 2,000 people were killed or injured by landmines in Myanmar in 2024, a figure that doubled from the previous year. Observers say the use of such weapons intensified between 2024 and 2025, particularly in areas close to the Bangladesh border.
The humanitarian situation is further complicated by the presence of more than one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh’s border districts, many of whom fled violence in Myanmar and now live amid ongoing insecurity.
Victims of landmine explosions often face long-term disability and economic hardship. Unable to return to manual labour, many families are forced to rely on children for income, leading to school dropouts and deepening poverty. Medical expenses, including prosthetic limbs and regular treatment, remain unaffordable for most affected households.
While Bangladesh’s border forces have installed warning signs and conduct periodic mine-sweeping operations, residents say these measures offer limited protection when survival depends on entering high-risk areas.
Border officials have condemned the use of landmines, calling it an unacceptable practice that places innocent civilians in danger. Local farmers and villagers have echoed these concerns, urging an end to the deployment of explosives that continue to claim lives long after battles move elsewhere.
