Joint forces have launched another operation against suspected human traffickers operating from hideouts in the hills of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.

The operation began at around 7:30am on Saturday in the hilly area of Leda-Nayapara under Hnila Union. More than 100 personnel from the Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Special Reserve Battalion (SRB) and police took part in the operation, led by the Army’s 10th Infantry Division. The operation continued for approximately three hours.

Earlier on Thursday afternoon, a joint forces operation in the same hills rescued 56 people from a detention facility and arrested five alleged members of a human trafficking network.

During that operation, gunfire was exchanged between the joint forces and the suspected traffickers. Soldier Mohammad Titas Sheikh, 27, was killed after being shot by traffickers.

Following military formalities on Friday evening, he was buried with state honours in his village in Nagarkanda, Faridpur.

The 56 rescued individuals were handed over to their families at the premises of Teknaf Model Police Station on Friday. They included six Rohingya people and 50 Bangladeshi nationals.

Reports that several bodies were lying in the hills have raised further concern over the incident. One of the rescued victims, Shahidul Islam, told police that several people had been killed during an exchange of gunfire between the two sides. However, he could not establish whether the deceased were members of a robber group or victims who had escaped from the detention facility.

Statements from some of the rescued individuals have also revealed how the trafficking network allegedly deceived and held people captive.

Asaduzzaman, one of the victims, said he was lured to Cox’s Bazar with the promise of a job and later taken to a hideout in the hills, where he was held for eight days. He said he tried to escape twice but failed.

According to Asaduzzaman, more than 50 people were held at the facility and were being prepared for trafficking by sea. Armed individuals guarded the hideout, while the captives were deprived of their mobile phones and other personal belongings.

Fear Spreads Among Residents of Leda Rohingya Camp

A series of operations, gunfire and the death of an army soldier in the hills have spread fear among residents of the nearby Leda Rohingya camp.

A large section of the camp is situated alongside the hills and is home to approximately 3,000 to 4,000 Rohingya people. Residents say repeated security operations and reports of gunfire over the past several days have heightened concerns about their safety.

Nabi Hossain, a community leader, locally known as a majhi, said nearly 4,000 people live in the camp area adjoining the hills. He added that residents had been living in fear since the incident, as joint forces continued their operations in the hills.

Mariam Khatun, 50, a camp resident, said movement by law enforcement personnel in the hills had increased since Saturday morning. She added that gunshots had been heard coming from the hills over the previous several days.

During a visit to Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar Superintendent of Police A.N.M. Sajedur Rahman said operations would continue as long as human trafficking by sea persisted.

“As long as human trafficking by sea continues, our operations will continue,” he said.

The police chief also said authorities had received reports of bodies in the hills. However, he added that their presence could not be confirmed until security personnel recovered them.