Trafficking networks must be dismantled

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Trafficking networks also exploit the poverty and unemployment of Bangladeshis. That only five of the 56 rescued victims were of Rohingya origin proves that this crisis does not…

The rescue of 56 people from a human trafficking network in the hills of Teknaf has exposed the alarming scale of organised criminal activity along the Cox’s Bazar border. This daily reports that the victims, mostly Bangladeshis, were held captive by armed traffickers who demanded exorbitant sums either for their release or for an illegal sea passage to Malaysia. Some of the victims were lured with promises of employment, only to be sold to the traffickers. The killing of an army soldier during the November 5 rescue operation demonstrates how dangerous and emboldened these criminal networks have become.

Per a survivor’s account, workers seeking an honest living were abducted, blindfolded, beaten and kept in remote hideouts, with demands of up to Tk 4 lakh for their freedom. Some of the armed guards were reportedly children, while police named a 15-year-old among the accused. This points to a troubling and deep criminal ecosystem. That such operations can continue in an area with a substantial presence of law enforcement and security forces raises serious questions.

The problem, however, extends far beyond conventional law enforcement. Cox’s Bazar is home to a vast Rohingya refugee population faced with uncertainty, restricted livelihoods, and declining assistance. Desperation means many are vulnerable to traffickers’ false promises of employment, marriage or family reunification abroad. According to UNHCR, more than 6,500 Rohingya attempted dangerous sea crossings in 2025, with nearly 900 reported dead or missing. Trafficking networks also exploit the poverty and unemployment of Bangladeshis. That only five of the 56 rescued victims were of Rohingya origin proves that this crisis does not concern the refugees alone.

It is a matter of concern that trafficking networks have developed sophisticated recruitment, transportation, detention and extortion arrangements despite repeated operations by the security forces.

The rescued victims must receive protection, medical…

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