Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has rescued six individuals, including Rohingyas, from a remote mountain in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. The victims had been held captive for trafficking, according to the BGB.
During the operation, a human trafficker was also arrested with weapons and bullets.
The operation took place early on Tuesday morning, and the information was confirmed in the afternoon by Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ashikur Rahman, commander of Teknaf BGB-2 Battalion.
The BGB said that they received information about people being held captive for trafficking in the mountains for the past three days. Based on this, a special patrol team from Teknaf-2 BGB launched an operation in the Raja Chhara area of the upazila’s Sadar Union on Tuesday morning.
During the operation, Rubel (20), a member of the human trafficking and robbery ring, was arrested with four local firearms and bullets. His accomplices managed to flee during the operation.
Six individuals who had been held captive were rescued from the trafficking hideout. The victims included: Russell (17), Shahriyaaz Imon (19), Mohammad Faisal (17), Mohammad Ehsan (16), Nozim Ullah (12), and Shahidul Amin (15).They were taken to the mountains and held captive for three days with the promise of being sent to Malaysia.
Lieutenant Colonel Ashikur Rahman confirmed that legal actions would be taken against the arrested human trafficker.
Earlier, on 3 October, 38 individuals, including women and children, were rescued from the same area by the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Navy. On 2 October, 21 people were rescued, and on 1 October, seven women and one child were rescued by the police.
On 23 September, five young men were rescued from a remote mountain area in Baharchhara Union, and on 18 September, a joint operation by the Coast Guard and Navy led to the rescue of 66 individuals, including 44 women and children. On 14 September, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and BGB rescued 83 individuals, including women and children.
For many years, traffickers have been using the hilly areas of Teknaf, a border region, as a secret hideout for trafficking people to Malaysia via sea routes. Despite regular operations that rescue many women, children, and youths, traffickers remain active with new tactics, according to law enforcement agencies.
