35 trafficking victims rescued in Teknaf, 3 arrested

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) rescued 35 trafficking victims and arrested three suspected traffickers with local weapons in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar yesterday.

The BGB-2 Teknaf Battalion conducted two separate operations in a single day in Teknaf yesterday.

Lt Col Ashiqur Rahman, commanding officer of the Teknaf Battalion, said on early Tuesday, they rescued six hostages from the hills, and later that night, another raid on Marine Drive beach led to the rescue of 29 victims.

According to a BGB press release, following the morning operation in Rajachhara village under Bottoli union, based on intelligence reports that the traffickers were trying to send several victims to the sea, BGB surveillance teams took strategic positions along Marine Drive in the evening. Around midnight, the troops noticed suspicious movement near the beach and quickly surrounded the area, rescuing 29 victims from a boat and arresting three traffickers.

The detainees were identified as Md Salim, 35, and Md Nurul Absar, 19, both from Teknaf's Maheshkhaliya Para; and Monsur Alam, 22, a resident of Kutupalong Rohingya camp. BGB said at least seven other suspected traffickers are on the run.

During the operation, BGB seized a locally made knife, a motorcycle, and an engine-run wooden boat.

Lt Col Ashiqur said, "In the morning, we rescued hostages from the remote hills, and at night, we foiled a human trafficking attempt along the coast."

He added that all the rescued victims would be handed over to the concerned authorities. Legal action is underway against the three arrested traffickers.