The human traffickers have allegedly started returning to various coastal areas of the district and taking massive preparations to smuggle people eyeing to the upcoming winter season.
Earlier, though they had went into hiding in the face of police drive, recently they again appeared in Ukhia, Teknaf and some other areas vastly known for human trafficking.
Even those traffickers who left the country to shun arrest started gathering there centring the season as the sea becomes calm during that time and the situation is congenial to the trafficking by small boats.
On the other hand, the local administration was on utmost alert to prevent the possible outbreak of human trafficking during the tourist season.
Local sources said high waves disappear turning the sea calm during winter season and the human traffickers choose the period as they use small boat in the migrant smuggling.
It was learnt that above 2,000 human traffickers have been trying to become active through starting contact with their brokers who allured people from different areas of the district.
When asked, Ukhia police station Officer-in-Charge (investigation) Md Habibur Rahman acknowledged to have information about returning the alleged human traffickers and said they have already increased drives against the offenders.
The OC continued that they even set many check posts on various strategic points of the district to check the human trafficking during the winter season.
Apprehending possible outbreak of trafficking, Coast Guard Teknaf Station Commander Lt Julhas Foysal said the human traffickers prefer the season as the sea remains calm that time.
Keeping an eye to the concern they have already taken necessary steps in line with the patrolling in Baharchhora, Inani and Pechar Dweep areas that are vastly known as hot spots for the trafficking, the commander added.
Teknaf police station OC Md Ataur Rahman Khandaker claimed human trafficking to Malaysia via the Bay of Bengal there has turned almost zero and they kept continued the drives to prevent the emergence of the traffickers in the future. As part of the move, they have so far arrested 100 alleged human traffickers since May this year, OC Ataur also said.
Since the trafficking business took off in 1996, no accurate data has been compiled on how many people have attempted to migrate, how many have died, or how many have gone missing.
Executive Director Abul Kashem of the NGO HELP Cox’s Bazar, who has worked on anti-trafficking issues since 2011, said often officials were not aware about what trafficking is and they evade the issue saying that people go to Malaysia of their own accord.