In a joint anti-trafficking operation, the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Bangladesh Navy rescued 25 people, including women and children, from a human trafficking den in the remote hilly area of Baharchhara, Teknaf on Monday.
The operation, conducted between 2:00pm and 5:00pm, followed intelligence gathered from previously arrested traffickers indicating that a group of people was being held captive before being smuggled to Malaysia by sea.
Confirming the incident on Tuesday, Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq, Media Officer of the Coast Guard, said the joint forces successfully apprehended two human traffickers and freed the victims, who were found in a makeshift hideout deep in the hills near Jumma Para, Baharchhara.
Preliminary questioning revealed that organised trafficking syndicates had been luring both Bangladeshi and Rohingya nationals with false promises of lucrative jobs and a better life in Malaysia.
The victims said they were confined and tortured by traffickers demanding ransom payments before arranging illegal maritime transport via the Marine Drive coastal route.
The Coast Guard confirmed that the rescued victims and detained traffickers are being processed for legal and administrative action, and efforts are ongoing to track down other members of the network.
Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq stated that the Bangladesh Coast Guard will continue such operations to curb human trafficking and protect vulnerable citizens, saying:
“We remain committed to eradicating human trafficking. Joint efforts with other law enforcement agencies will continue to dismantle these networks and ensure safe coastal areas.”
The latest rescue highlights the ongoing challenges in preventing cross-border trafficking through the Bay of Bengal, where traffickers frequently exploit impoverished individuals seeking opportunities abroad.
