Bangladesh Coast Guard and Navy conducted a joint operation in the remote hills of Baharchhara, Teknaf, resulting in the rescue of 66 individuals, including women and children, who had been abducted by traffickers.
Based on intelligence, it was known that a significant number of individuals, including women and children, were being trafficked to Malaysia by sea from the deep hills of Baharchhara, Teknaf. Consequently, a joint operation was conducted by the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Navy from 6 pm to 11 pm on Thursday, 18 September 2025.
During the operation, a total of 66 individuals, including women and children, were rescued from the smugglers’ hideout.
During interviews with the victims, it was revealed that organized trafficking gangs had lured Bangli people and Rohingya citizens from various parts of the country, including Teknaf.
The gangs promised the victims that they would be transferred to Malaysia and offered them lucrative jobs, convenient employment, aspirations of a better life, affordable travel abroad, and the opportunity to cover their expenses by working at their workplaces for free.
They then kept the victims hostage in secret hideouts located deep within the hills of Teknaf.
The traffickers planned to smuggle them to Malaysia by boat from the adjacent coastal area of Marine Drive.
The victims also reported that the traffickers were attempting to hold them captive and demanded ransom through torture.
During the operation, no traffickers were apprehended as they fled upon sensing the presence of the joint force.
Intelligence surveillance and operations by the Coast Guard and Navy will continue to apprehend them.
The Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard will continue such operations in the future to prevent human trafficking.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Courtesy
