Fifteen individuals, including four children and six women, were successfully rescued in a collaborative effort between the Coast Guard and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in the Baharchhara area of Teknaf. Lt. Commander Siyam-ul-Haque, the media officer of the Bangladesh Coast Guard, reported that acting on received intelligence, a joint team from the Coast Guard’s Baharchhara outpost and Rab conducted a targeted operation at a house in the Kacchapia area of the upazila at approximately 4:00 pm the previous day.
The victims were found confined in a warehouse located at the residence of an individual named Abdul Ali, who was allegedly orchestrating their illegal transportation to Malaysia via sea routes. The rescue operation conducted by the team resulted in the successful retrieval of the 15 individuals. The traffickers managed to escape upon detecting the presence of law enforcement personnel, evading any immediate arrests.
Initial inquiries unveiled that well-organized trafficking networks had enticed individuals from Cox’s Bazar and other regions of Bangladesh, including Rohingyas, with false promises of improved prospects overseas, lucrative employment opportunities, and affordable migration to Malaysia via sea routes.
Following the rescue operation, the individuals were handed over to the Teknaf Model Police Station for further legal proceedings, as confirmed by the Coast Guard official.
