An army soldier was killed during a gunfight between joint forces and an armed human trafficking gang in the deep hills of Teknaf upazila in Cox's Bazar on Thursday afternoon.
The deceased was identified as Soldier Md. Titas Sheikh, 27, of the Bangladesh Army.
Acting on intelligence that 15 to 16 armed traffickers were holding nearly 120 Rohingya and Bangladeshi citizens hostage in Rongkhali area, a joint team comprising the Army’s 10 Infantry Division, BGB, and local police launched a raid around 5:00pm.
Sensing the presence of security forces, the traffickers opened indiscriminate fire, leading to a heavy gunfight. Titas sustained a gunshot wound to his left shoulder and suffered excessive bleeding.
He was rescued and given first aid before being rushed to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Ramu, where duty doctors declared him dead.
During the drive, joint forces rescued 57 hostages, detained five human traffickers, and recovered one pistol, a country-made gun, and four rounds of ammunition from the scene.
The Bangladesh Army expressed deep respect for the young soldier's supreme sacrifice and extended heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family members.