150 trafficking victims return from Myanmar

A total of 150 Bangladeshi human trafficking victims were brought back home from Myanmar Monday after a flag meeting between the border guards of the two countries, report agencies.  

They were rescued by Myanmar authorities on May 22

On the other hand, 19 out of 38 suspected Bangladeshis found stranded among Rohingya refugees in North Aceh in Aceh province of Indonesia will be flown back home Thursday.

The repatriation process took place at Ghundum border point in Naikhyongchari upazilla of Bandarban district.

BGB Cox's Bazar sector commander Colonel Mohammad Khalequzzaman said a BGB team, led by 17 Battalion commanding officer Lt Col Sayeed, reached the border area around 10:45 am for holding the meeting with Border Guard Police of Myanmar.

After necessary formalities, the team returned home with the trafficking victims around 2:15 pm.

The present group was part of the 200 victims of human trafficking rescued by the Myanmar authorities on May 21, said a Foreign Ministry press release.

The repatriation process is a clear manifestation of Bangladesh's overall commitment and seriousness in carrying out the repatriation within the shortest possible time, it said.

Another report Cox's Bazar adds, A suspected member of an international human trafficking gang was allegedly killed in a 'gunfight' with  rivals in Alikhali Lobonmath area in Teknaf upazila early Monday.

The deceased was identified as Amanullah Anu (30), son of Mohammad Sofi, a resident of Block-H of Rohingya refugee camp in the upazila.

Police said the two rival groups of human traffickers exchanged fires in Alikhali Lobonmath early in the morning.

On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the body of Anu.