Cox’s Bazar police rescue 24 Rohingyas while being trafficked to Malaysia
COX’S BAZAR, TEKNAF AND HNILA CORRESPONDENTS
Police have rescued 24 Rohingyas – six children, six women and 12 men – from the coastal area of Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar during an attempt to illegally traffick them by sea to Malaysia.
Inspector Md. Moshiur Rahman of the Baharchhara Police Investigation Center said that the operation was conducted in the Kachubia area of Ward No. 8 in Baharchhara Union, Teknaf Upazila, around midnight on Tuesday (12 December).
The rescued people are residents of various Rohingya camps in Ukhia and Teknaf, he said.
“Late Tuesday night, police were alerted to the movement of several unidentified individuals in the hills of the Kachubia area in Baharchhara Union, Teknaf,” said Inspector Rahman. “Upon arrival of a police team at the site, four to five people managed to escape. It was at this location that the 24 Rohingyas were found, hidden in the bushy and jungle areas of the hill.”
The rescued Rohingyas disclosed that those who fled the scene had assembled them for trafficking to Malaysia by trawler, using the sea route. They were to be boarded onto the trawler at some point during the night.
Inspector Rahman added that the Rohingyas rescued have been taken to the Baharchhara Police Investigation Center for further questioning. Following directives from higher authorities, steps are being taken to return these Rohingyas to their respective camps.
