Army soldier killed in Teknaf anti-trafficking operation
Collected Photo
A Bangladesh Army soldier died after sustaining gunshot wounds during a joint forces operation against human traffickers in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar on Thursday afternoon.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the matter in a press release. During the raid, joint forces detained five members of the human trafficking syndicate and rescued 57 hostages.
Authorities identified the deceased soldier as Md Titas Sheikh, 27, who served as a soldier in the 10 Infantry Division of the Bangladesh Army. He suffered gunshot wounds during the operation. Rescuers rushed him to the Ramu Combined Military Hospital (CMH), where the doctor declared him dead.
Investigations revealed that the criminal network was preparing to smuggle the hostages illegally to Malaysia via sea routes.
A 63-member joint force of Bangladesh Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police deployed from the Rangikhali Army Camp in Teknaf. When the joint forces reached the forest around five kilometers west of the Leda Rohingya Refugee Camp, they encountered armed criminals.
An exchange of gunfire broke out between both sides, leaving soldier Titas injured.
Joint forces then rescued 57 hostages from the hilly terrain, comprising six Rohingya refugees and 51 Bangladeshi nationals. Security forces also detained five suspects, including one Rohingya national. The armed criminals carried G3 rifles.
Following the raid, forces burned down the hideout used by the human traffickers and robbers. Law enforcement recovered four rounds of ammunition, one single-barrel gun, and one locally manufactured weapon from the site.
