The Bangladesh Navy has rescued 65 people from a wooden boat being used to transport people illegally to Malaysia by sea and detained 11 suspected human traffickers. The rescue was carried out on Wednesday night during a routine patrol in the Saint Martin's area, according to a release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations on Friday morning.
BNS Khalid Bin Walid intercepted the boat after a fishing vessel spotted it drifting about 81 nautical miles from the Saint Martin's Lighthouse. The fishing vessel approached the boat after noticing that its engine had failed and later informed the Navy after becoming suspicious of the people on board.
Navy personnel reached the scene and rescued all 76 people. As water was entering the wooden boat, they removed the water to prevent it from sinking and provided the people with first aid, food, and other humanitarian assistance.
During preliminary interrogation, 11 of the 76 people were identified as members of a human trafficking ring and subsequently detained. The remaining 65 were identified as victims who had been lured with promises of passage to Malaysia.
Most of the victims had allegedly been abducted by the trafficking ring and held captive in remote areas of Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar before being taken by sea towards Malaysia. The detained suspects and the seized boat are being handed over to Teknaf Police Station for further legal action, the ISPR said.
The Bangladesh Navy continues regular patrols and operations to secure the country's maritime boundaries and prevent human trafficking, smuggling, and other illegal activities at sea.
Why it matters
This maritime operation highlights ongoing efforts by security forces to combat human trafficking syndicates exploiting vulnerable populations along coastal routes.