Police rescued 31 people from Maheshkhali upazila of Cox’s Bazar last night while they were taking preparation to go to Malaysia illegally through the Bay of Bengal. Shafiul Alam Chowdhury, inspector (investigation) of Maheshkhali Police Station, said a team of police conducted a drive in Shonadia area and rescued them. Of the recused, 14 are women and six children. However, police could not arrest anyone in this connection as the traffickers managed to flee the scene.