A Bangladesh Army soldier was killed in an exchange of gunfire between joint forces and armed criminals during a raid on a human trafficking gang’s hideout in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. The deceased soldier was identified as Private Md. Titas Sheikh, 27. Five members of the human trafficking syndicate were arrested, while 57 Bangladeshi and Rohingya nationals held hostage were rescued.

The operation was conducted on Thursday (November 5) in a remote hilly area of Rangikhali in Teknaf upazila. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the information in a press release.

According to the ISPR, intelligence reports indicated that an armed human trafficking gang comprising 15 to 16 members had held around 120 Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals hostage in the remote hills of Rangikhali.

Based on the information, a joint operational team comprising members of the Bangladesh Army’s 10 Infantry Division, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local police reached the spot at around 5:00pm.

As the joint forces approached, the armed traffickers opened indiscriminate fire, triggering an intense exchange of gunfire between the two sides.

At one stage, Private Md. Titas Sheikh, who was at the forefront of the joint forces, was shot in his left shoulder. He sustained serious injuries and suffered severe blood loss.

He was immediately rescued and given initial