Photo: Collected

CHATTOGRAM, Mar 09, 2026 (BSS)- A huge contingent of joint forces started combing operation against criminals and illegal arms at Jungle Salimpur slum located at inaccessible hilly area under Sitakunda upzila here today.

Members of the law enforcement agencies led by the army encircled the entire areas in the early morning and began searching every knock and corner of the huge slum. 

A number of suspected criminals hidden inside the slum were arrested till filing of the report at 3.30 p.m on Monday. 
    
Deputy Inspector General (crime) of Chattogram Range Police Nazmul Hasan told journalists that the joint drive would continue till the slum and adjacent areas are freed from criminals and illegal arms are recovered. The operation may continue till tomorrow, he said.

Law enforcement authorities said that the combing operation centering the Jungle Salimpur slum, which has long been considered as den of criminals and hoarding place of illegal arms, began following a directive from the Ministry of Home.

On January 19, 2026, Deputy Assistant Director of RAB Abdul Motaleb Bhuiyan was killed during a raid in the slum when criminals fired indiscriminately on the law enforcers. On that day the law enforcers had backtracked from the spot abandoning the operation.

Additional Police Superintendent of District Police (media) Md Russel told to the press that around 4000 members of joint forces have been participating in the ever-biggest drive at Jungle Salimpur Slum. 

Out of them 550 members are from armed forces, 1800 from police, 330 from APBN, 400 from RAB, 120 from BGB and 15 from APC. Three dog squads and three choppers have also been engaged in the drive.
 
From the beginning of the raid , every entry and exit points were sealed off , a good number of team continuing the search through setting up temporary check post while law enforcers split into groups launching drives in every open and hidden places in and outside the slum and adjacent hills. 
Surveillance work is going on from the sky through special helicopters and drones along with deployment of dog squad to unearth illegal arms were likely stored beneath.   

DIG Nazmul Hasan said they have drawn a combined and comprehensive plan to dismantle the chunk of criminals once for all and actively considering setting up permanent outpost of joint forces to restore peace and order in the areas.     

The jungle Salimpur - a hilly and inaccessible area in the outskirt of the Chattogram city has become a criminal’s den where rampant killing, arms and drug related trade loomed large in recent years.
 
A number of criminal groups are active in the area of around 3100 acres of hilly land. Over 30,000 people have been living in this illegally developed residential area.
Often locked into fighting within the rival criminals groups over establishing dominancy, the criminal’s gang also did not hesitate to attack on government officials, law enforcers and journalists at times while attempts were made to enter into the area to conduct regular drives against criminal activities. 

The area has been plagued by a series of killings, shootings, and counter-attacks. Official sources said once abandoned Jungle Salimpur area were turned into an illegal residential zone by razing a number of big hills. 

Besides selling illegal land plots, the den is used for drug and armed smuggling, sheltering killers and anti-social elements making the area into a safe zone for criminals. Criminals even used to take shelters in the area after committing crimes elsewhere in the country.