A senior army warrant officer was killed and two other soldiers suffered injuries when members of the armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) opened fire on a patrol team in Rowangchhari upazila of Bandarban on Sunday.
The deceased was Master Warrant Officer Nazim Uddin, son of late Shamser Ali of Ghaghatpara village in Rangpur Sadar upazila.
The injured army soldiers are being treated at a hospital, according to the Inter Services Public Relation Directorate (ISPR).
Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed expressed deep grief over his death.
On the occasion of National Children's Day 2023 and Independence Day, the patrol team went to remote hilly areas to ensure the security of a team that went to provide free healthcare to mothers and children on Sunday afternoon.
Around 1pm, the armed KNA members suddenly opened fire on the patrol team from an ambush vantage point, leaving the warrant officer dead on the spot and two others injured, ISPR said.
According to the ISPR, the separatist Kuki-Chin National Army, an armed terrorist group, has previously provided arms training to a militant group "Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya" in Bandarban's hilly areas for money.
Besides, the terrorist group tried to stop the road construction work going on in Thanchi under the supervision of the Bangladesh Army. On failing, they kidnapped 12 workers on March 11.
Of them, a worker suffered bullet injuries and four workers are still being held hostage by the KNA.
Although the remaining seven workers were released for ransom, they threatened not to work on the road construction project.
On February 8, the KNA sent a notice to the Transport Owners Association threatening to stop vehicle movement in three upazilas of Bandarban.
On Sunday, the district administration issued an indefinite travel ban in the area due to security concerns caused by various terrorist activities of KNA members.
