Martyred Army Member Titas Taken Home Following Teknaf Operation
Preparations are underway to bring home the body of Bangladesh Army soldier Md. Titas Sheikh (28), who was killed in a gunfight between joint forces and human traffickers in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. Deep grief has descended upon his native home in Laskordia village, Nagarkanda upazila, Faridpur, with the wailing of relatives weighing on the atmosphere of the area.
His body is expected to arrive at his village home on Friday around 3:30 PM. The late Titas Sheikh is the son of Afzal Hossain from Laskordia village in Nagarkanda upazila. Mr. Titas’s uncle and Chairman of Laskordia Union Parishad, Md. Habibur Rahman Babul Talukdar, told Inqilab that the time for his Namaz-e-Janaza and burial will be finalized after the body arrives home. Later, he will be buried with due honor at the family graveyard.
He also mentioned that Mr. Titas was an exceptionally polite and gentle-natured person. He got married just three years ago. This death completely shattered his family before he could fully embark on his new married life, and his relatives are inconsolable. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a joint operation involving the Army, BGB, and police was conducted last Thursday to rescue around 120 hostages in the steep hills of the Rangikhali area in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.
Around 5:00 PM, when the joint forces reached the location, members of the human trafficking syndicate launched sudden gunfire, leading to an intense exchange of fire between both sides. During the operation, soldier Titas Sheikh was shot in his left shoulder. He was promptly rescued and rushed to a local hospital in critical condition, and later transferred to the Ramu Combined Military Hospital (CMH), where he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
ISPR further reported that 57 hostages were successfully rescued during the joint operation. Additionally, five members of the human trafficking syndicate were detained. A pistol, a locally-made gun, and four rounds of ammunition were recovered from the scene following a search.
