Survivor group seeks rehabilitation for Teknaf trafficking victims

Anirban Survivor Voice Foundation has called on the government to ensure the safety, medical treatment, legal assistance and long-term rehabilitation of human trafficking victims rescued in a joint forces operation in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar.

The survivor-led organisation also demanded justice over the death of army soldier Md Titas Sheikh during the operation.

The organisation submitted a memorandum to the senior secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday, calling for an investigation into the soldier's death and allegations of human trafficking, hostage-taking, torture and ransom collection.

The memorandum, signed by the organisation's president, Md Al-Amin Nayan, also called for identifying and bringing to justice the masterminds, recruiters, financiers, sources of weapons and local and foreign associates of the trafficking network.

Citing an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement issued on 5 November and national newspaper reports, the memorandum said soldier Md Titas Sheikh, 27, was critically injured during an exchange of gunfire in a joint operation by the Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police in the Rangikhali hills of Teknaf. He was later declared dead at Ramu Combined Military Hospital (CMH).

The operation also led to the rescue of 57 people and the arrest of five suspected members of the trafficking network, according to the memorandum.

Anirban said updated official information was needed on the actual number of people rescued, their current whereabouts, security and access to essential services. It stressed that each missing person should be individually identified and verified rather than relying solely on preliminary intelligence estimates.

Among its seven demands, the organisation called for safe shelter, medical care, mental health and psychosocial support, legal assistance and needs-based rehabilitation for those rescued.

It also urged the authorities to assess the individuals' consent and security risks before arranging family reunification, while ensuring follow-up assistance, with their consent, for those who had already returned home.

The memorandum called for child-friendly protection measures if any children were among those rescued. It also sought coordination with the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner and relevant protection agencies in cases involving Rohingya victims.

The organisation stressed that trafficking survivors must not be treated as criminals simply because they had been rescued or were in an irregular migration situation.

It called for the individual identification of victims and measures to protect survivors and witnesses, maintain the confidentiality of their personal information and ensure legal safeguards. Speaking to the media must not be made a condition for receiving assistance, it added.

Anirban also urged the authorities to continue regular patrols, intelligence surveillance and effective coordination among law enforcement agencies in trafficking-prone hill areas, coastal regions, waterways and border areas.

Copies of the memorandum were sent to the chairman of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Authority, the inspector general of police, the chief of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Cox's Bazar, and the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner.

The organisation requested the appointment of a focal point within 72 hours of receiving the memorandum and an urgent coordination meeting within seven days involving relevant government departments, law enforcement agencies, service providers and survivor-led organisations.

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Anirban president Md Al-Amin Nayan said the responsibility did not end with the rescue operation.

"Every rescued person's safety, dignity, medical care, justice and rehabilitation must be ensured. At the same time, a proper investigation into soldier Titas Sheikh's death and bringing the entire criminal network behind these crimes to justice are essential," he said.

He said the experiences and participation of trafficking survivors could help establish effective prevention and protection measures.

Anirban expressed its willingness to support mutual assistance, referrals to services and post-rehabilitation follow-up, subject to the voluntary consent of those concerned and its own capacity.

Anirban Survivor Voice Foundation is a survivor-led organisation working to prevent human trafficking and human smuggling, uphold survivors' rights, promote safe migration and bring about policy and institutional changes.