Jungle Salimpur, a remote hilly area in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram, long considered a stronghold for armed groups, is now under effective law enforcement control following a major operation.
On 9 March, over 3,000 members of joint forces launched a coordinated drive, establishing temporary camps and regular patrols in the region. Residents welcomed the re-establishment of administrative presence after more than two decades of criminal dominance.
Within a week of the operation, Chattogram Range DIG Ahsan Habib Palash and Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz were promoted. Palash was appointed Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), while Aziz became Additional IGP of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn).
Their transfers were followed by new appointments for Chattogram Range DIG and CMP commissioner. Observers link the promotions to the success of the operation, though Palash said the process had already been underway and the operation may have contributed indirectly.
Local residents expressed cautious optimism. “If officers are promoted after such risky operations, it encourages others to take similar steps,” said Manjur Morshed of Fatikchhari. Another resident stressed the importance of maintaining permanent control over the area.
Jungle Salimpur spans about 1,256 acres and was long a sanctuary for criminals due to its difficult terrain and isolation. The settlement began in the 1990s under an armed criminal, Ali Akkas, who sold plots of government land. Following internal disputes, his associates formed separate armed groups, which reportedly control around 30,000 residents today.
The area has witnessed serious incidents, including murders, journalist attacks, and gunfights. Previous plans to develop the region, including a new central jail, were stalled due to criminal occupation.
Authorities say the successful 9 March operation, led by Palash and Aziz, marked a turning point in re-establishing law enforcement presence. Temporary camps have been set up, patrols continue, and officials express hope that
Jungle Salimpur will remain under control. Palash noted that media attention had played a key role in prompting the operation.
The development is seen as a significant step toward restoring law and order in one of Chattogram’s most challenging areas.
