Bangladesh Coast Guard Rescues 26 Rohingya, Including Women and Children, From Trafficking Attempt off Teknaf
The Bangladesh Coast Guard has rescued 26 Rohingya men, women, and children from a human trafficking attempt by sea toward Malaysia, officials confirmed Wednesday evening. The operation highlights the growing scale of human trafficking networks exploiting vulnerable refugees in the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf coastal zone, often linked to cross-border criminal groups including the terrorist Arakan Army (AA).
Rescue Operation Details
According to Lieutenant Commander Siyyam-ul-Haq, Coast Guard media officer, intelligence sources tipped off authorities about a group preparing to sail from Baharchhara’s Abdul Ali Ghat area under Teknaf Upazila.
A team from the Baharchhara Coast Guard Outpost launched a special raid around 7 PM on October 28 and intercepted a wooden boat (sampan) loaded with 26 Rohingya passengers — including women and children — attempting to cross the Bay of Bengal.
“They were planning to reach Malaysia illegally by sea. All 26 have been rescued safely,” Siyyam said.
The traffickers, however, fled the scene upon realizing the presence of Coast Guard patrols.
Trafficking Networks and False Promises
Interrogation of the rescued individuals revealed that several organized trafficking syndicates had lured them with false promises of high-paying jobs and better living conditions abroad. The networks had targeted both Rohingya refugees from camps and Bangladeshi citizens from the surrounding region, charging large sums for the dangerous voyage.
Human rights observers warn that the routes from Teknaf and Saint Martin’s Island toward Malaysia have become hotspots for maritime trafficking, particularly during periods of calm weather. The terrorist Arakan Army (AA) and affiliated drug-trafficking rings reportedly profit indirectly from this movement by taxing smugglers and controlling parts of the Rakhine coastline used as staging zones.
No Arrests Yet, But Operations Continue
While no traffickers were captured during this raid, authorities have launched follow-up intelligence operations to dismantle the networks responsible.
“Our surveillance and investigations are ongoing,” said Siyyam-ul-Haq. “The Coast Guard will continue anti-trafficking missions to prevent these illegal voyages.”
A Continuing Humanitarian Risk
The incident underscores how desperation among displaced Rohingya — combined with dwindling international aid and restricted livelihood opportunities — continues to drive people toward traffickers. Hundreds have died in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea over the past decade attempting similar journeys.
Bangladesh’s Coast Guard has stepped up patrols to protect coastal communities, but traffickers often exploit night operations, remote estuaries, and social media recruitment to evade detection.
The latest rescue once again reveals the intersection of human trafficking, narcotics routes, and regional instability — all worsened by the influence of the terrorist Arakan Army (AA) across the border in Myanmar.