Preparations are underway for a major, coordinated security operation in the notorious Salimpur forest, a long-troubled area on the outskirts of Chattogram that has for years remained beyond effective state control.
Senior administration and law enforcement officials have confirmed that the operation – aimed at dismantling terrorist hideouts and recovering government-owned khas land – could be launched at any time, either before or after the upcoming national elections.
Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia said the government is moving forward with simultaneous planning on multiple fronts. “We are preparing for a major operation,” he said, stressing that the action would not be isolated or symbolic.
According to the DC, the drive will involve multiple agencies working together to eliminate armed groups entrenched in the forest and to reclaim land illegally occupied for years.
Significantly, the administration has decided to consult local political leaders and even election candidates before the operation. Zahidul Islam Mia said discussions would be held with political parties to ensure cooperation and to avoid any misunderstanding during the enforcement drive.
“Everyone’s cooperation will be necessary to bring this area under the rule of law,” he added, indicating the sensitivity of launching a large-scale operation amid an election environment.
Salimpur jungle, a vast hilly area on the outskirts of Chattogram, has long been regarded as a security black spot beyond effective state control. The dense terrain and scattered illegal settlements have allowed armed criminals, listed terrorists, and land grabbers to establish hideouts, turning the area into a de facto no-go zone for years.
The renewed urgency follows the killing of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officer Motaleb Hossain, who was beaten to death by terrorists in the Jungal Salimpur last Monday during a security operation.
The incident sent shockwaves through law enforcement circles and exposed, once again, the depth of terror entrenchment in the area.
Four other members of the force were reportedly injured in the same incident, underlining the risks faced by security personnel operating in the forest.
In the days following the killing, the situation in Salimpur has appeared deceptively calm. On Wednesday, two days after the incident, only a handful of shops opened in the area, with most businesses remaining shut amid fear and uncertainty.
Locals described a tense silence, suggesting that criminal groups may be lying low while anticipating a major crackdown.
Chattogram DIG Ahsan Habib Palash told Times of Bangladesh on Wednesday evening that there had been no significant change in the situation over the previous 24 hours. “The situation has remained the same as before,” he said, a remark that reflects the fragile and volatile nature of security in the area rather than genuine stability
Leaders of major political parties have stressed both the urgency of restoring state authority in Salimpur and the political sensitivity surrounding the timing of the planned operation.
In a separate statement earlier, the BNP’s Sitakunda upazila unit said Salimpur has long turned into a sanctuary for terrorists and land grabbers, arguing that decisive action is unavoidable regardless of the election schedule.
Jamaat leaders, while expressing support for the operation in principle, have insisted that it must be carried out transparently and without political bias, warning against any attempt to use the crackdown to harass activists or influence the electoral field.
