56 Rescued from Traffickers’ Hill Hideout in Bangladesh’s Teknaf

Joint forces rescue 56 people from an armed human trafficking hideout in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, after an army soldier is killed during an operation, Five suspects arrested.

Desk Report

Nov 6, 2026, 10:53 AM2 min read

56 Rescued from Traffickers’ Hill Hideout in Bangladesh’s Teknaf

A joint force has rescued 56 people who were being held captive and apprehended five members of a human trafficking ring / Collected

Joint forces in Bangladesh have rescued 56 people from an armed human trafficking gang’s hideout in the remote hills of Rangikhali in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, a day after an army soldier was shot dead during an operation against the network.

The rescued individuals were handed over to Teknaf Model Police Station on Friday morning for identification and further investigation, police said.

The rescue followed a joint operation launched on Thursday afternoon in the hills of Hnila Union, where security forces came under fire from suspected human traffickers. Army soldier Private Md Titas Sheikh, 27, was killed in the exchange of gunfire, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Five suspected members of the trafficking network were arrested during the operation. Security forces also seized a pistol, a locally made firearm and four rounds of ammunition.

The operation involved personnel from the Army's 10 Infantry Division, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police.

Teknaf Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam said police were verifying the identities and other details of the 56 rescued people. Legal proceedings were also underway over the soldier's killing.

Several rescued individuals told police they had been held against their will in the hills and subjected to physical abuse. Some said they had tried to escape but were prevented from doing so.

They also reported that between 40 and 50 armed men were guarding the hideout. Many of those held captive had allegedly been lured there with promises of employment.

The incident has heightened security concerns in Teknaf, a border area in southeastern Bangladesh that has long faced challenges linked to human trafficking and cross-border criminal networks.

Local residents and elected representatives have called for an extensive security operation to dismantle armed trafficking networks operating in the remote hill areas.

Student representatives have also called for human chains at several locations across Teknaf after Friday prayers, demanding action against the trafficking groups and justice for the slain soldier.

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