A Bangladesh Army soldier was killed, and several others were injured during a joint force operation against a human trafficking syndicate in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Thursday evening.
The deceased was identified as Md Titas Sheikh, 27, a soldier who suffered a severe gunshot wound to his left shoulder and died from excessive bleeding.
Security forces detained five members of the human trafficking gang and rescued 57 hostages from the scene following the raid, which occurred around 5pm in the remote hills of Rongikhali area.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), intelligence inputs revealed that an armed gang of 15 to 16 traffickers had taken around 120 Rohingya and Bengali citizens hostage in the deep hills of Rongikhali.
Based on this information, a joint operational team comprising the 10 Infantry Division of the Bangladesh Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and local police dispatched to the location.
Sensing the arrival of the joint forces, the traffickers opened fire indiscriminately, triggering a heavy gunfight between the two sides. Md Titas Sheikh was critically injured after being hit by a bullet in his left shoulder during the clash.
He was promptly rescued and given initial medical treatment at a nearby hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Ramu Combined Military Hospital for advanced care, where duty doctors declared him dead.
The ISPR informed that security personnel recovered one pistol, one country-made gun, and four rounds of ammunition from the spot, alongside arresting five traffickers and freeing 57 hostages.
It added that the Bangladesh Army remembers the sacrifice of the young soldier with profound respect while on duty for the motherland.
The army also prayed for the eternal peace of his departed soul and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members.
