Dhaka, Jan. 4 -- The Bangladesh Navy has detained 273 people while they were attempting to travel illegally to Malaysia by sea.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) disclosed the information in a press statement on Sunday, reports bdnews24.com.

According to the statement, the navy carried out an operation late Saturday night in the sea adjacent to St Martin's Island, detaining 273 individuals along with a wooden boat as they attempted to leave the country illegally by sea.

During initial questioning, all of the detainees said they were travelling to Malaysia through illegal means.

The ISPR said suspicious movement of a wooden boat was detected about 30 nautical miles southwest of St Martin's Island by the Bangladesh Navy ship BN...