Tension lingers in Jungle Salimpur, men staying away from homes fearing arrest

Three days after a major joint forces operation in the Jungle Salimpur and adjacent Alinagar areas of Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram, the situation remains tense, with many male residents staying away from their homes for fear of arrest.

During a drive on Monday (9 March), law enforcers arrested 22 people and recovered arms and ammunition. Three cases were later filed with Sitakunda Police Station under the Arms and Explosives Acts. Authorities have since set up two temporary camps and intensified patrols, deploying about 360 personnel from the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Armed Police Battalion (APBn).

Entering Jungle Salimpur through the Bayezid-Faujdarhat connecting road from Chattogram city, this reporter was stopped and questioned by police on alert. Officers said anyone considered suspicious is being interrogated.

A visit yesterday afternoon found markets and roads unusually quiet, with most shops shuttered and residents reluctant to step out unless necessary. Locals said a lingering sense of fear continues to grip the area.

A temporary law enforcement outpost has been set up near SM Pilot High School, where benches and tables have been arranged for officers' rest. Assistant Commissioner of Chattogram District Police Mohammad Nurul Islam, who oversees the post, told The Business Standard that around 130 police personnel are deployed there and regular patrols are being conducted.

Further along the road toward Alinagar, another checkpoint has been set up where about 230 members of RAB, police and APBn are on duty. Most markets in the area also remained closed yesterday, though limited trading continued.

Resident Josna Begum said most men in the area, including her husband, have not returned home since the drive. "No one is coming back out of fear of the police," she said.

At a market near SM Pilot High School, tea stall owner Kamal Uddin said footfall has dropped sharply in the past three days. "People are not coming out unless it is absolutely necessary," he said.

Inside Jungle Salimpur, numerous temporary and semi-permanent houses line the slopes and foothills, with hills cut into terraces to create settlements. The area spans about 3,100 acres and has long been inhabited. Electricity poles and roadside connections indicate the settlement has gradually become permanent.

Abu Bakkar, 54, who moved there after being displaced elsewhere, said he bought a plot four years ago for Tk350,000 and built a house. "Many people settled here because land is relatively cheap," he said.

The settlement dates back to the 1990s, when a criminal named Ali Akkas began cutting hills to establish housing. Plots of government-owned hilly land were later sold to low-income families. Over time, different groups gained influence, and the settlement expanded. Today, about 30,000 people claim plot ownership through several organisations and live there.

Residents say low housing costs attracted many families, but have called for rehabilitation if eviction occurs in the future.

During Monday's operation, the joint forces faced obstacles. Additional Deputy Inspector General of Chattogram Range Nazmul Hasan said a truck had been placed on the road toward Alinagar to block access, and a culvert had been damaged. Law enforcers removed the truck and temporarily repaired the culvert before continuing the drive.

Deputy Inspector General Ahsan Habib Palash said the operation was conducted "to ensure administrative control and restore normal law and order." Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Mohammad Ziauddin said the administration has reasserted its authority and will now move to implement previously planned development initiatives.