The joint forces have handed over 56 people rescued from an armed human trafficking syndicate’s hideout in the remote hills of Rongikhali in Teknaf’s Hnila union of Cox’s Bazar to police.
They were handed over to Teknaf Model Police Station on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, the killing of an army soldier by armed human traffickers during a joint forces operation has triggered anger and concern among local residents.
Locals and public representatives have demanded a sweeping operation to dismantle the traffickers’ hideouts across the hills.
Student representatives have also called for human chains at different locations in Teknaf after Friday prayers to protest the incident.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a gunfight broke out on Thursday afternoon during a joint forces operation against human traffickers in the remote hills of Rongikhali.
Army soldier Titas Sheikh, 27, was killed after being shot by armed traffickers during the operation. Five members of the trafficking gang were arrested, and a pistol, a locally made firearm and four rounds of ammunition were recovered.
Personnel from the Army’s 10 Infantry Division, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police took part in the operation.
Teknaf Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam said the 56 rescued people had been handed over to police, who were verifying their identities and other details.
Legal proceedings were also underway over the killing of the army soldier, he added.
The OC said police had been informed about plans to organise human chains demanding action against the criminals.
Held captive in a shack for eight days, failed to escape twice
Asaduzzaman, a resident of Faridpur who was among those rescued, broke down in tears while recounting his ordeal.
He said traffickers had held him captive in a makeshift hut in the hills for eight days. Despite attempting to escape twice, he failed. A group of 40 to 50 armed men guarded the hideout, he added.
Asaduzzaman said he had become acquainted with Imamul, a Rohingya imam from the Kutupalong camp in Ukhiya, while working on a bridge in Cox’s Bazar. They later developed a relationship.
Imamul eventually lured him with the promise of a job at the camp and called him there eight days ago. His mobile phone and other belongings were confiscated before he was taken to the hills in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw at night and handed over to the traffickers.
At the hideout, he found more than 50 other people being held captive. That was when he realised he had fallen into a human trafficking gang’s trap, he said.
He added that a trawler was being prepared for a sea voyage two days earlier, with more than 100 people expected to be transported by boat. The traffickers tried to take him and five others to the trawler, but they were left behind due to a lack of space.
"We were scheduled to be trafficked yesterday. Fortunately, the army arrived and rescued us. But it is heartbreaking that a patriotic army soldier lost his life while rescuing us," he said.
Two men allegedly sold for Tk1 lakh
Saiful and Mizanur Rahman Sagar, residents of Sebatkhal in Ukhiya who were among those rescued, said a broker named Nurali had handed them over to the traffickers on the promise of jobs.
They later learned from the traffickers that the two of them had been bought for Tk1 lakh, they alleged.
"For five days, we saw four to five new people being brought to the hideout every day. Anyone who tried to speak up was brutally beaten. We were also beaten when we attempted to escape. Later, they tied us up with iron chains," they said.
They added that they were given food only twice a day, consisting of raw pumpkin and lentils, leaving them severely hungry.
"We were supposed to be put on a trawler and trafficked by sea on Thursday. The joint forces rescued us just in time. There was heavy gunfire during the operation. It felt as though a war was going on in the hills," they said.
Locals demand sweeping operation in hills
Nur Alam, a resident of Hnila, said a sweeping operation was essential to dismantle the powerful network of human traffickers.
"Gunshots can be heard in the hills almost every day. Armed traffickers have made the entire area unsafe. Their hideouts have spread across the hills of Baharchhara, Hnila and Whykong. There is no alternative to a coordinated operation to dismantle these hideouts," he said.
Mohammad Ali, acting chairman of Hnila Union Parishad, said the activities of armed groups operating in the hills were increasing day by day, with human traffickers becoming particularly active during the winter season.
"An army soldier was killed in a gunfight at a traffickers' hideout yesterday. What could be more alarming than this? Ordinary people here are virtually helpless in the face of these criminals.
A sweeping operation in the hills is urgently needed to bring the situation under control," he said.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) SM Anik Chowdhury said law enforcement agencies were working to arrest the armed human traffickers operating in the hills.
"No one will be allowed to escape justice after committing a crime. We are also monitoring the planned human chains," he said.
Expressing deep sorrow over the death of the army soldier, the UNO said eliminating such criminal activities required collective cooperation from local residents alongside efforts by law enforcement agencies.
