Army member killed in gunfight with human traffickers, 3 arrested, 57 rescued

A soldier was killed in a gunfight during a joint forces operation against a human trafficking gang in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident, while 57 people held captive in the hills were rescued.

The operation was conducted around 5.30pm on Thursday (5 November) in a hilly area beside Block H of the Leda Nurali Para Rohingya camp in Hnila union of Teknaf upazila.

Sources familiar with the operation said a human trafficking gang had maintained a hideout in the remote hilly area for a long time. The gang allegedly brought people from different parts of the country and held them there before attempting to traffic them to Malaysia. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team comprising members of the district police and the army launched the operation.

The traffickers opened fire after detecting the presence of the joint forces, prompting security personnel to return fire. A soldier was shot during the exchange. He was later taken to Cox’s Bazar by ambulance under military escort for advanced medical treatment. His condition was reported to be critical.

Mohammad Kawsar Sikder, commander of the 16th Armed Police Battalion (APBn) and an additional deputy inspector general, said the operation primarily aimed to recover illegal firearms and free victims of human trafficking. Several people had been detained and those held captive had been rescued, he said.

He added that the identities of the 57 rescued people were being verified and arrangements were being made to provide them with necessary medical care. Operations are continuing to arrest other human traffickers and criminals hiding in the hills and recover illegal firearms.