Members of the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) rescued 32 people, including women and children, who were being held for trafficking to Malaysia by sea in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar early Sunday.
The victims were reportedly gathered for illegal migration through maritime routes before being rescued in a joint operation in Baharchhara area.
Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon confirmed the development on Sunday afternoon.
He said the Coast Guard Baharchhara outpost and RAB conducted the operation around 2am after receiving information that several people were being held captive for trafficking.
During the raid, the forces rescued 32 victims from a papaya garden near the LGED road in the Noakhali Jummapara area of Baharchhara union.
The garden is reportedly owned by an alleged human trafficker identified as Md Abdul Ali.
The traffickers managed to flee the scene after sensing the presence of law enforcement personnel and no arrests were made during the operation.
Initial questioning of the rescued victims indicated that organised trafficking syndicates had lured Bangladeshi citizens and Rohingya refugees from various areas, including Cox’s Bazar, with promises of a better life abroad, high-paying jobs and low-cost migration.
The traffickers were planning to send them to Malaysia through illegal sea routes.
The rescued victims were later handed over to Teknaf Model Police Station for necessary legal procedures.
Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said the Coast Guard will continue such operations to prevent human trafficking.
