Borderland Landmines Threaten Innocents — Bangladeshi Villagers Become Victims

In the areas of Bangladesh bordering war-torn Myanmar, dense forests and mountainous regions are riddled with landmines, causing frequent tragedies among innocent villagers—costing them their legs or even their lives, and making them victims in a conflict they never chose.

Ali Hossain, 40 years old, comes from Ashatoli village in Bandarban District, southeastern Bangladesh. The village's name means "Harbor of Hope", but now it is overshadowed by the threat of landmines. Forests, farmlands, and footpaths around the village are full of hidden dangers, gravely threatening villagers' livelihoods and safety.

Early last year, Ali Hossain accidentally stepped on a landmine while gathering firewood in the mountains with other villagers, and the explosion instantly blew off both his legs. He recalled the unbearable pain and could only scream in agony. Although villagers quickly staunched his bleeding and rushed him to the hospital for emergency treatment, his injuries were so severe that he ultimately had to undergo amputation to save his life.

A year later, Ali Hossain relies on prosthetics and crutches to barely walk, but he can no longer return to work in the rubber plantation. To cover his daily medicine cost of about 300 taka, his two young sons now have to gather firewood after school to help support the family.

Similar tragedies are common in Bangladeshi areas bordering Myanmar. According to statistics from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, Myanmar is one of the countries with the highest number of landmine casualties in the world. The latest complete data shows that, in 2024, Myanmar had more than 2,000 landmine casualties—double the number from the previous year.

Bangladeshi authorities accuse the Myanmar military and opposing armed groups of planting landmines in border areas. Bangladeshi police say that at least 28 people were wounded by landmines in 2025 alone. Last November, a Bangladeshi border guard was killed when a landmine blew off both his legs.

Kafil, the local commander of the Bangladeshi Border Guard, bluntly stated that such acts are extremely brutal and can never be justified. Although the border guard has erected warning signs and red flags along the border and regularly conducts mine clearance operations, villagers, compelled to maintain their means of living, are still forced to enter the dangerous forests, so the warning measures struggle to provide real protection.

Local farmer Dudu pointed out that, as the population grows, more and more residents are moving toward the border for farming. "Planting landmines is never a way to solve conflict. This situation must not continue."