28 women and children rescued while being trafficked to Malaysia

The Coast Guard and police have rescued 28 people, including women and children, in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. It is learnt that they were being trafficked to Malaysia. They were arrested in a raid conducted in the sea area adjacent to Kachchhpia Ghat in Baharchhara, Teknaf on Tuesday (November 25) afternoon. The matter was confirmed by Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq.
He said, “Based on a confidential tip-off that 28 women and children, including women, were staying at the sea beach area adjacent to Kachhpiya Ghat in Baharchhara, Teknaf, with the intention of being smuggled to Malaysia by sea, Coast Guard Outpost Baharchhara and police conducted a joint operation this morning. During the operation, the operation team rescued 28 people who were staying at the beach with the intention of being smuggled to Malaysia.
Interrogation of the rescuers revealed that several organized smuggling gangs were planning to smuggle Bangladeshi and Rohingya citizens from different parts of the country, including Teknaf, to Malaysia by promising them a better life abroad, high-paying jobs and cheap foreign travel.
During the operation, it was not possible to arrest anyone as the smugglers fled after sensing the presence of the joint forces. The Coast Guard’s intelligence surveillance and operation to arrest them are continuing. He added, “Bangladesh Coast Guard will continue such operations in the future to prevent human trafficking.”