Police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have dismantled 20 alleged human trafficking hideouts in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf and rescued a 16-year-old boy who was allegedly abducted for trafficking.
Two suspected traffickers – Touhidul Alam, 22, and Abu Sadeque, 25 – were also arrested during the operation, Teknaf Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Saiful Islam said today (14 September).
The rescued teenager, Shahriyar Noman Naim, was allegedly lured and abducted from Dulahazara Union in Chakaria on 12 September and taken to a trafficking hideout in the Rajarchhara area of Teknaf, police said.
Acting on information, a police team raided the area and rescued Naim. Tohidul and Sadequ were arrested at the scene, the OC said.
Based on their interrogation and information provided by the rescued boy, police identified several alleged trafficking hideouts in Rajarchhara and surrounding hilly areas.
Police and Teknaf-2 BGB subsequently conducted a joint operation in the area from 4pm to 7pm on 13 September, dismantling 20 alleged trafficking hideouts, according to the OC.
“Human traffickers are becoming active again. As part of our efforts, we managed to arrest two of them and rescue an abducted boy in the joint operation,” Saiful Islam said.
He said intelligence surveillance and operations would be strengthened in border and coastal areas to prevent human trafficking.
