A Bangladesh Army soldier who was shot during a joint forces operation against a human trafficking ring in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, has died in hospital.
Md Titas Sheikh, 28, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday night while receiving treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) of the 10th Infantry Division in Ramu. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and law enforcement sources confirmed the death.
The incident occurred in the afternoon in the remote hilly area of Rangikhali in Hnila Union, Teknaf. During a joint operation by the Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police targeting a trafficking network, traffickers opened fire. A bullet struck the upper left side of Titas Sheikh’s chest around 4:30 p.m.
He was first taken to the Leda IRC Rohingya Hospital and later shifted by ambulance to Ramu CMH as his condition worsened. Duty doctors declared him dead at approximately 8:48 p.m.
Titas Sheikh, son of Afzal Hossain from Laskardia village in Nagarkanda upazila, Faridpur, was married and posted at the Rangikhali Army Camp. He took part in the operation.
Additional DIG Md Kawsar Sikdar, commander of the 16th Armed Police Battalion (APBN), said a joint drive was underway in the hills when the gunfight with terrorists occurred, leaving the soldier injured. He died later that night under treatment.
Sources said a hill-based armed group had been holding more than 200 people in remote areas of Teknaf for trafficking by sea to Malaysia. The joint forces conducted the rescue operation from around 2 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. in a difficult hilly zone 8–10 km west of the barbed-wire fencing between Rohingya camps 24 and 26. Both sides exchanged fire.
The operation recovered one locally made single-shot gun and one pistol. Joint forces rescued 57 trafficking victims and arrested three suspects with weapons.
Related army fatalities
In a separate incident in September 2026, two Bangladesh Army soldiers were killed and an officer was critically injured in an accident during a tank firing exercise at the Hathazari Field Firing Range in Chattogram. According to ISPR, a shell exploded while troops were firing from a tank.
The deceased were identified as Sainik (Operator) Abu Bakar Siddique, 30, and Sainik (Gunner) Md. Tasnim Rifat, 29. The injured officer was airlifted to CMH Dhaka. An investigation was ordered. The Prime Minister later met the families of the two soldiers and provided financial assistance.
Earlier, in September 2024, Army Lieutenant Tanjim Sarwar Nirjan, 23, was stabbed to death by armed robbers during a joint forces raid in the Dulahazara area of Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar (Chittagong division). He was serving with the 39 ST Battalion and died after being attacked while confronting fleeing suspects. Several suspects were later convicted in connection with the case.