Soldier Titas Sheikh, Shot by Traffickers in Teknaf, Dies at Ramu CMH; 57 Hostages Rescued

Army member Md Titas Sheikh, who was shot during a gunfight between joint forces and members of a human-trafficking gang in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, has died. He died on Thursday (November 5) night while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) of the 10 Infantry Division in Ramu. The doctor on duty in the emergency department declared him dead at 8:48 pm.

In a press release, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate said intelligence had indicated that an armed human-trafficking gang of 15 to 16 men had held about 120 Rohingya and Bengali citizens hostage in the deep hills of Rangikhali under Hnila union of Teknaf upazila. Acting on the information, a joint operation team comprising the Bangladesh Army's 10 Infantry Division, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local police reached the spot at around 5 pm on Thursday.

The ISPR also said that when the armed traffickers sensed the presence of the joint forces and opened indiscriminate fire, an exchange of gunfire took place between the two sides. At one stage of the exchange, Bangladesh Army soldier Md Titas Sheikh (27) was seriously injured by a bullet in his left shoulder and suffered heavy bleeding.

According to police and local people, a hill-based terrorist group had detained more than two hundred people in different hills of Teknaf to traffic them to Malaysia by sea. The joint forces conducted the rescue operation from 2 pm to 5:20 pm on Thursday. The operation was carried out in the remote hilly area 8 to 10 kilometres west of the barbed-wire fence between Rohingya camps 24 and 26.

Law enforcement sources said that at around 4:30 pm, during the operation in the hills, a bullet fired by the terrorists hit Titas Sheikh in the chest. He was first taken, injured, to the Leda IRC Rohingya Hospital in Teknaf. When his condition deteriorated, he was taken by ambulance to Ramu CMH for better treatment.

The deceased Titas Sheikh was the son of Afzal Hossain of Laskardia village in Nagarkanda upazila of Faridpur. He was married. Titas, who was posted at the Rangikhali Army Camp in Teknaf, had taken part in the operation.

Md Kawsar Sikder, commanding officer of the 16 Armed Police Battalion (APBN) and additional DIG, said the operation was being conducted jointly in the hills. Army member Titas Sheikh was shot during the gunfight with the terrorists at that time. He died at night while undergoing treatment, he said.

One pistol, one locally made gun and four rounds of ammunition were recovered from the spot during the operation. In addition, five members of the human-trafficking gang were detained and 57 people held hostage were rescued.

The Bangladesh Army is remembering with deep respect the sacrifice of this young soldier while on duty in the service of the motherland. The Army has also prayed for the salvation of his departed soul and expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.