In a joint operation conducted by the Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Navy, 38 victims, including women and children, were rescued from a suspected human trafficking den in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. Two alleged traffickers were also detained during the raid.
The information was confirmed in a press release issued on Friday by Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haque.
Based on intelligence input, the operation was carried out around 2:00 AM on Thursday night in a remote hilly area near Kachhapia Government Primary School in Baharchhara Union, Teknaf. The joint forces raided a hidden shelter used by traffickers, rescuing a total of 38 individuals — 18 women, 12 men, and 8 children.
Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haque further stated that, during preliminary questioning, the victims revealed they had been held captive, tortured, and extorted for ransom by the traffickers, who also intended to smuggle them abroad.
Legal proceedings concerning both the rescued individuals and the detained traffickers are currently underway. Authorities have assured that further investigations will be conducted to identify and dismantle the wider trafficking network operating in the region.
