Child Injured by Myanmar Border Gunfire in Teknaf Dies After 27 Days in Hospital

A young Bangladeshi child, Huzaifa Sultana Afnan, who was critically injured by gunfire from across the Bangladesh–Myanmar border near Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, has died after battling for her life in hospital for 27 days.

She passed away on the morning of 7 February 2026 while receiving treatment at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in Dhaka.

Her family confirmed that doctors declared her dead around 9:45–9:50 a.m. that day, and preparations were underway to bring her body back home. 

The incident occurred on 11 January 2026, when Huzaifa, aged 9 to 12 years according to varying reports, was struck by a bullet fired from the Myanmar side while she was in the Whykong Union, Techchhi Bridge area of Teknaf.

She had been shot in the head and was seriously wounded, prompting local residents to rush her first to nearby medical facilities and later transfer her to Chittagong Medical College Hospital due to the severity of her condition. 

Doctors attempted surgery, but the bullet that had lodged in her brain could not be safely removed due to the high risk. She was later transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment and placed on life support. At times, her condition briefly improved enough to remove the ventilator, but complications such as severe infection and oxygen level decline worsened her state. 

The shooting is believed to have occurred amid ongoing conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where clashes among armed groups and government forces have intensified, resulting in stray gunfire crossing into Bangladesh territory. The incident has raised concerns about civilian safety in border areas.