Teknaf, Oct 3 (V7N) – A joint team of the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Navy rescued 38 victims of human trafficking, including women, men, and children, from a remote hilly area in Baharchhara of Teknaf upazila. Two suspected traffickers were detained during the raid, though their identities have not yet been confirmed.

The operation was carried out at around 2 a.m. on Friday, October 3, following intelligence reports.

Lieutenant Commander Syam-ul-Haque, Coast Guard media officer, confirmed the rescue in a press release issued on Friday afternoon. He said the joint force conducted the raid near Kachhapia Government Primary School in Baharchhara union, where traffickers had been holding the victims captive. Among the rescued were 18 women, 12 men, and 8 children.

During initial questioning, the victims said they had been lured with promises of being sent abroad but were instead confined for an extended period. Many alleged that they were subjected to both physical and psychological abuse as traffickers tried to extort ransom from their families.

Lieutenant Commander Haque stated that all 38 victims were rescued alive from the traffickers’ hideout. Two suspects were arrested on the spot, and further legal action is underway against them. The rescued victims are being provided with initial protection and questioning before being handed over to local administration and law enforcement agencies for legal procedures.

He added that the Coast Guard remains committed to combating human trafficking and other illegal activities in the country’s coastal and maritime areas, and such operations will continue in the future.

Local residents said human trafficking networks had been active in coastal areas of Ukhiya and Teknaf for a long time. They expressed relief after the successful raid and praised law enforcement agencies, urging for stricter surveillance to dismantle such criminal groups permanently.

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