66 Rescued from Traffickers’ Hideout in Teknaf

Photo : Dhaka Tribune

Arakan Now | 20 September 2025

The Bangladesh Coast Guard and Bangladesh Navy, in a joint operation, rescued 66 people, including women and children, who had been held captive for trafficking in the remote hills of Baharchhara in Teknaf.

Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq confirmed the rescue on Friday morning.

He said intelligence sources had revealed that a large number of people, including women and children, were being confined in the Baharchhara hills with the intention of smuggling them to Malaysia by sea. Acting on this information, the Coast Guard and Navy launched a joint operation on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

During the raid, the joint forces stormed a secret hideout at the hilltop and rescued 66 captives.

In initial questioning, the victims said several organized trafficking gangs had lured Bangladeshi and Rohingya citizens from Teknaf and other parts of the country with false promises of high-paying jobs, better employment opportunities, improved living standards, low-cost travel, and even free migration with repayment later through work. Instead, they were confined in the Teknaf hideout.

The traffickers had planned to smuggle them to Malaysia by boat through the coastal areas near Marine Drive when the conditions became favorable, the victims added. They also reported being tortured during captivity as traffickers attempted to extort ransom from their families.

However, sensing the presence of the joint forces, the traffickers managed to flee the scene, preventing any arrests. The Navy and Coast Guard said they will continue surveillance and operations to apprehend those responsible.

Lieutenant Commander Haq added that such drives will continue to combat human trafficking.