Fifteen individuals, including women and children, have been rescued from a warehouse in Teknaf where they were allegedly being held for trafficking to Malaysia by sea. The joint operation was carried out in Baharchhara ইউনিয়ন under Teknaf উপজেলা of Cox’s Bazar district.
According to Lieutenant Commander Siam-Ul-Haq, Media Officer of the Bangladesh Coast Guard, the অভিযান followed intelligence reports indicating that a suspected trafficker, identified as মো. আব্দুল আলী, had confined several নারী, পুরুষ and শিশু in a গোডাউন within his residence in the Kachchhapia এলাকায় of Baharchhara. The victims were reportedly being prepared for illegal transport to Malaysia via maritime routes.
The raid was conducted at approximately 4:00 p.m. on 15 February by personnel from the Coast Guard Station Teknaf, the Baharchhara Outpost, and members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). During the অভিযান, officers searched the premises and discovered 15 বন্দি individuals inside the warehouse. However, the alleged traffickers managed to flee upon sensing the presence of law enforcement, and no arrests were made at the scene.
Preliminary questioning of the উদ্ধার victims revealed that an organised trafficking network had lured them with promises of improved living conditions, lucrative employment, and low-cost migration to Malaysia. Authorities indicated that both Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingya refugees were among those targeted by the syndicate, reflecting a broader pattern of exploitation in the Cox’s Bazar region.
The rescued ব্যক্তিদের were subsequently handed over to Teknaf Model Police Station for further legal procedures and protective arrangements.
Summary of the Operation
| বিষয় | বিবরণ |
|---|---|
| Location | Baharchhara Union, Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar |
| Date & Time of Raid | 15 February, approx. 4:00 p.m. |
| Conducting Agencies | Bangladesh Coast Guard & Rapid Action Battalion |
| Number Rescued | 15 (including women and children) |
| Suspect | মো. আব্দুল আলী (absconded) |
| Intended Destination | Malaysia (via sea route) |
Teknaf, situated along the southeastern coastline bordering Myanmar, has long been identified as a vulnerable transit point for maritime human trafficking. Law enforcement agencies have intensified patrols and intelligence-led অভিযান in recent years, particularly amid recurring attempts to smuggle migrants across the Bay of Bengal.
Officials from the Coast Guard reiterated their commitment to continuing such coordinated drives to dismantle trafficking networks and safeguard vulnerable communities. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend the অভিযুক্ত traffickers and identify the wider syndicate behind the পরিকল্পিত পাচার attempt.
