Coast Guard, Navy rescue 7 women and a child from remote Teknaf hills

The Bangladesh Coast Guard and Navy rescued eight people, including seven women and one child, from the remote hills of Baharchara in Teknaf. The rescued individuals are reportedly residents of various Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhiya.

The joint operation took place yesterday from 5pm to 7pm in Jumma Para, deep in the Baharchhara hills. Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq confirmed the rescue to the press.

He said intelligence reports indicated that several individuals, including women and children, had been confined in the remote hills of Baharchara with the intention of being trafficked to Malaysia by sea. Based on this information, the Coast Guard and Navy conducted a coordinated rescue operation.

During the operation, traffickers fled upon detecting the presence of the joint forces, and no arrests were made. Surveillance and further operations by the Navy and Coast Guard are ongoing to apprehend those involved.

Siam-ul-Haq added that such operations will continue to prevent human trafficking in the future.

According to law enforcement sources, as of yesterday, 68 human traffickers have been arrested in Teknaf this year, and 180 people have been rescued. Incidents of human trafficking tend to increase during the winter season.