Bangladesh rescues Rohingya from trafficking attempt
55 Rohingya, including women and children, rescued off Teknaf coast as traffickers exploit camp despair, funding cuts and economic hardship
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh’s Coast Guard has rescued 55 Rohingya refugees, including women and children, after intercepting a wooden boat off the southeastern coast near Teknaf that authorities say was attempting to transport them illegally to Malaysia.
Officials said the vessel was detected over the weekend after intelligence reports flagged suspicious maritime movement in coastal waters bordering the Bay of Bengal. When signaled to stop, the boat allegedly attempted to flee, prompting a brief chase before it was boarded and searched.
On board, officers found dozens of Rohingya refugees who had reportedly been promised jobs, safer living conditions, and low-cost passage to Malaysia. Five suspected human traffickers were arrested at the scene, and legal proceedings have begun, according to authorities.
Several of those rescued told officials they agreed to undertake the journey due to worsening hardship inside the overcrowded refugee settlements in Cox’s Bazar, where more than one million Rohingya remain displaced after fleeing violence in neighboring Myanmar.
Refugees in the camps face severe economic hardship, limited educational access, and shrinking humanitarian assistance as international funding declines.
Local residents in Teknaf say traffickers routinely prey on desperation within the camps, offering assurances of safety and opportunity abroad. Community leaders have warned that many families underestimate the dangers of maritime routes across the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, where overcrowded boats, harsh weather, food shortages, and mechanical failures have led to repeated tragedies in recent years.
The Coast Guard said the rescued individuals are now receiving humanitarian support and screening, while authorities urged camp residents not to trust false promises and to report suspected trafficking activity to prevent further loss of life.
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