The Coast Guard has rescued 44 people, including women and children, from a 'secret prison' in the deep hills of Baharchhara, Teknaf, Cox's Bazar. They had been gathered there with the intention of being trafficked to Malaysia by sea.
This information was revealed by Lieutenant Commander Md. Salahuddin Rashid Tanvir, the commander of the Coast Guard's Teknaf station, at a press conference held at the station on Friday afternoon.
However, he mentioned that the traffickers managed to flee, so no one could be arrested.
Lt. Commander Salahuddin Rashid Tanvir stated that the Coast Guard received information late Thursday night that a number of people, including women and children, had been gathered in a secret prison in the deep hills of the Pani Shibanga area of Baharchhara union, Teknaf, to be trafficked to Malaysia by sea.
Based on this tip, a Coast Guard team conducted an operation there from 2:00 AM to 7:00 AM on Friday. When the suspicious den was surrounded, 7-8 individuals, sensing the presence of the Coast Guard members, cleverly escaped.
"Later, 44 people, including women and children who were being held captive in the traffickers' secret hideout on the hilltop for the purpose of trafficking, were rescued."
The Coast Guard officer said, "Several organized gangs involved in human trafficking via the Teknaf sea route are active. They lure both Rohingyas and Bangladeshi citizens by promising high-salaried jobs abroad, convenient employment, a better life, low-cost travel, and free passage. Later, the traffickers detain them and attempt to extort ransom money through torture."
Lt. Commander Md. Salahuddin Rashid Tanvir informed that the rescued individuals have been handed over to the Teknaf police station to be returned to their families.
