Police have rescued 15 people while they were being illegally trafficked to Malaysia by sea via the Baharchhara coast in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar.
Among those rescued, two were Rohingya and 13 were Bangladeshi nationals.
The authorities said they were rescued during an operation in the Kachhapia coastal area on Tuesday night. The rescued Bangladeshis included residents of Chakaria and Narsingdi district.
Police sources said a human trafficking ring had long been attempting to traffic Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals illegally to Malaysia by sea using the remote coastal areas of Baharchhara in Teknaf.
Acting on a tip-off that several men and women had been gathered in Kachhapia area to be trafficked to Malaysia, a team from Baharchhara Police Investigation Centre conducted a raid on Tuesday night.
Fifteen people were rescued from the scene. After checking their identities, police initially confirmed that two were Rohingya and 13 were Bangladeshi nationals.
Baharchhara Police Investigation Centre In-charge Inspector Mohammad Sayeed said efforts were underway to identify and detain members of the human trafficking ring by questioning those rescued.
“The rescued individuals have been handed over to the relevant authorities after completion of the necessary legal procedures,” he said.
