Published : 21 Feb 2026, 05:31 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 03:23 PM
The Coast Guard have rescued 55 people from the Teknaf coast in Cox’s Bazar while they were allegedly being trafficked to Malaysia by sea.
Five suspected traffickers were also detained during the operation.
Coast Guard spokesperson Lt Commander Siam-Ul-Haq disclosed the information on Friday evening.
He said the Coast Guard received a tip saying a large number of people, including women and children, were brought to Teknaf’s Baharchhara with the intention of trafficking them to Malaysia by sea.
Acting on the tip, three Coast Guard teams launched a special raid on Thursday night.
During the raid, Coast Guard personnel crossed a suspicious trawler at sea, which they signalled to stop.
The vessel attempted to flee, ignoring the signal, but was intercepted by the Coast Guard.
A subsequent search of the trawler led to the rescue of 55 people, including women and children.
Five alleged human traffickers were detained at the scene, Siam said.
Preliminary questioning of the rescued individuals revealed that several organised trafficking syndicates had planned to send Bangladeshis and Rohingyas to Malaysia by luring them with promises of a better life abroad, high-paying jobs, and low-cost travel.
Legal proceedings are under way in connection with the incident.
