Joint Forces Launch Massive Raid in Jungle Salimpur with 4,000 Personnel

A massive joint security operation is currently underway in the rugged terrain of Jungle Salimpur in Sitakunda. Starting at 6:00 AM today, Monday (March 9), approximately 4,000 members from the Bangladesh Army, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and the Police joined forces to flush out criminal elements from the area.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Media), Md. Russell, confirmed the ongoing raid, stating, "Four thousand members of the joint forces are participating in the operation. Detailed information will be shared upon its conclusion."

Heightened Security and Strategic Cordons
Security forces have completely encircled Jungle Salimpur, establishing checkpoints at every entry and exit point to prevent suspects from fleeing.

The operation is being carried out by several specialized teams. Officials noted that they are employing new tactical maneuvers this time, learning from previous encounters where law enforcement came under heavy fire in the treacherous hilly landscape.

Background: The Killing of a RAB Official
The urgency for this coordinated strike intensified following a violent clash on January 19. During a raid to apprehend suspects, Sub-Assistant Director (Naib Subedar) Motaleb Hossain Bhuiyan of RAB-7 was killed in a terrorist attack.

According to the case filed by RAB, a gang led by Mohammad Yasin attacked the officers with machetes and sticks, snatched a detained suspect, and briefly abducted four RAB members who were later rescued by the Army and Police.

While the operation was initially planned for earlier this year, it was reportedly deferred due to the national elections.

A Haven for Crime and Illegal Settlements
Spanning 3,100 acres near the Asian University for Women, Jungle Salimpur has evolved over four decades into a stronghold for criminal syndicates.

Despite falling under Sitakunda Upazila, its proximity to Chittagong city and its inaccessible hills have made it a "safe zone" for:

Illegal Land Grabbing: Continuous hill-cutting and the unauthorized sale of residential plots.

Armed Militancy: Constant armed patrols by local gangs to protect their illegal trade.

Violence Against Media: In October of last year, a clash between rival groups left one dead, and two journalists were brutally assaulted by terrorists the following day while attempting to cover the incident.

Authorities believe this large-scale intervention is necessary to dismantle the administrative structures built by local kingpins like Mohammad Yasin and Nurul Haque Bhandari, both of whom are named in the Motaleb murder case.