A Bangladesh Army soldier was killed in a gunfight with armed human traffickers during a joint security operation in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar on Thursday afternoon. Security forces rescued 57 captives and arrested five traffickers during the raid.
The deceased soldier was identified as 27-year-old Md. Titas Sheikh.
Acting on intelligence that 15 to 16 traffickers were holding around 120 Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals captive in the deep forests of Rangikhali, a task force of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police raided the area around 5:00 PM.
As security personnel approached the criminals opened fire indiscriminately. Forces retaliated in self-defense, initiating an intense shootout. Soldier Titas Sheikh suffered a critical bullet wound to his left shoulder and was rushed to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Ramu where attending doctors declared him dead.
Following gunfight the forces recovered two firearms and four rounds of ammunition, rescued 57 captives and detained five traffickers. Authorities believe other captives and criminals fled into the hills during the firing. A joint sweep operation is ongoing across the region to track down the remaining suspects.
