Dhaka, Oct. 24 -- The Bangladesh Coast Guard have rescued 44 people, including women and children, from a "secret lair" in the remote hills of Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, where they were allegedly confined for trafficking to Malaysia.

The operation was conducted throughout Thursday night in the deep hill areas of Teknaf. However, the traffickers fled the scene and no arrests were made.

The details were disclosed at a press briefing on Friday afternoon at the Bangladesh Coast Guard's Teknaf Station by its commander, Lt Com Salahuddin Rashid Tanvir.

He said the Coast Guard received information at midnight that a group of people, including women and children, were being gathered for illegal immigration by sea.

The raid was carried out from arou...