62 Rohingyas rescued in Cox’s Bazar, 5 ‘traffickers’ held

Law enforcers rescued 62 Rohingyas including women and children from Cox's Bazar's Pekua upazila and St Martin's Island yesterday and today when they were being trafficked to Malaysia.

Five alleged human traffickers were also arrested during the drive in St Martin's Island.  

In Cox's Bazar, at least 45 Rohingya refugees were rescued from Pekua upazila early today.

Informed by locals, police went to Karimdad Mia's jetty in Ujantiya area of the upazila around 1:30am and rescued the Rohingyas, who had gathered there to board a Malaysia-bound engine boat, said Mohammad Iqbal Hossain, additional superintendent of Cox's Bazar police.

Some Rohingyas and the crew of the boat managed to escape, the official said, adding that the rescued Rohingyas fled from the refugee camp in Kutupalong of Cox's Bazar.

They were allured of opportunity to be sent to Malaysia by traffickers, Iqbal Hossain also said.

Police are trying to identify the human traffickers and their middlemen operating in the area, he added.    

In St Martin's Island, a patrol team of Coast Guard Bangladesh intercepted a boat carrying Rohingya refugees in Dakkhin Beach area last night, according to a press release of the Bangladesh Coast Guard..

They rescued 17 Rohingya refugees who were being trafficked to Malaysia and also arrested five traffickers, the press release added.