Army Personnel Killed in Gunfight with Human Traffickers in Teknaf

A soldier was martyred after being shot during a joint operation by the army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police against human traffickers and armed criminal gangs in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. The martyred soldier is Soldier Mr. Mohammad Titas Sheikh (27). Five members of the trafficking gang were arrested in the operation.

The joint forces also rescued 57 people who were held hostage for trafficking. They recovered one pistol, one locally made gun and four rounds of bullets. The incident took place last Thursday in the remote hills of Rangikhali in Teknaf upazila. This information comes from the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), which released it yesterday, Friday.

According to ISPR, intelligence sources said an armed trafficking group of 15 to 16 people was holding about 120 Rohingya and Bengali citizens hostage in the deep hills of Rangikhali. They were being held to be smuggled to Malaysia by sea, and a large ransom was being demanded from their families. Based on this information, a joint operation team of the Bangladesh Army’s 10th Infantry Division, BGB and local police started a rescue operation.

When the joint forces reached the spot, the armed traffickers began firing wildly at them. At one point both sides exchanged heavy fire. Soldier Mr. Mohammad Titas Sheikh was shot in the left shoulder and was badly wounded. His condition worsened due to heavy bleeding, and he was first taken to a nearby hospital.

He was later taken to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Ramu for better treatment, where doctors declared him dead. Meanwhile, the joint forces kept up the operation even under fire and rescued the 57 hostages. They recovered weapons and ammunition from the scene and arrested five members of the trafficking gang. Various groups have demanded that the operation and search continue to find out whether more people are still held hostage in the remote hills.

People held rallies in Cox’s Bazar town and Teknaf last night in support of the operation. They also demanded a strict crackdown for border security. Criminal activity in the remote hills and border areas of Teknaf, including human trafficking, the drug trade, kidnapping and armed gangs, has long worried locals. Gangs setting up hideouts in the hills threaten not only law and order but also the safety of ordinary people. Holding women, men and children hostage for trafficking and demanding ransom is deeply alarming.

According to locals, it is urgent to identify the criminal hideouts in the hills and carry out regular joint operations. They also want illegal weapons recovered, the money sources of traffickers traced, and the patrons of criminals brought under the law. At the same time, they say security checks in border and hill areas must be stepped up. They say those who were rescued must get safe shelter and the help they need.

Earlier, on 4 November, police recovered the bodies of two people from the hilly areas of West Pankhali and Lechuaprang in Hnila Union of Teknaf. Two others were found injured at the time. Police initially believe they were taken and tortured over a dispute about a consignment of Yaba. Police also suspect that drug dealers and human traffickers active in the hills were involved.

On 3 November, in a separate operation by SRB 15 in the border area of Asharghorpara in Maulvibazar of Hnila, officials recovered 11 lakh Yaba tablets worth about Tk 30 crore and five locally made weapons. Two people were arrested.

One incident after another has raised fresh concern over criminal gangs in the hills and border areas of Teknaf. Locals hope the joint forces will step up operations to identify and bring all gangs linked to human trafficking and the drug trade under the law. Locals remember with deep respect the sacrifice of Soldier Mr. Titas Sheikh, who gave his life doing his duty to protect the people, secure the border and stop human and drug trafficking. They expressed grief at his death and demanded that effective and steady operations against criminals continue.