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Published : 17 May 2026, 06:27 PM
The government is planning to build police training academies in Jungle Salimpur, long known as a “fortified stronghold” of criminal groups in Chattogram’s Sitakunda Upazila, newly appointed Superintendent of Police Masud Alam has said.
He disclosed the plan on Sunday during an exchange meeting with journalists working in different media outlets in Chattogram.
Masud Alam, formerly the widely discussed deputy commissioner of Ramna Zone under Dhaka Metropolitan Police, recently took charge as superintendent of police of Chattogram.
During the discussion, journalists raised issues surrounding Jungle Salimpur and Raozan Upazila, both long associated with criminal activities.
Masud Alam said the government plans to establish “two police academies or training centres” in Jungle Salimpur.
“The home minister recently spoke about this during Police Week,” he said.
The SP said he had heard many things about Jungle Salimpur even before joining Chattogram.
“There are now two temporary police camps at two schools there. Permanent accommodation has been designated for them. Police training academies will be built and other forces will also remain active there. In that case, it will not take long for the law and order situation in Jungle Salimpur to return to normal.”
Jungle Salimpur had long been described as “a state within a state”, where outsiders allegedly could not enter without the permission of occupying groups.
In 2022, the Awami League government planned to clear the occupied khas (state-owned) land to build Chattogram Central Jail, a sports village, cricket stadium, iconic mosque and eco park.
However, authorities repeatedly faced resistance during eviction drives.
On Jan 19, a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) team entered the area in several microbuses for an operation.
Locals later surrounded the force after announcements were made through loudspeakers and detained three members.
RAB Sub-Assistant Director Nayek Subedar Motaleb Hossain Bhuiyan died after being beaten.
On Mar 9, the local administration carried out a major operation involving 3,183 members of law-enforcing agencies, including 487 army personnel, 122 Border Guard Bangladesh members and 371 RAB personnel.
Three helicopters, 15 APCs, a dog squad and 12 drones were used in the drive.
At the time, allegations emerged that the operation was aimed at removing one group led by Yasin and handing control to another group.
Responding to the issue, Masud said on Sunday, “There is talk that one group is being removed to install another group. We have no such intention. No one should be able to say this area is another state within the state. No one should be able to isolate the area.”
On Raozan, the SP said police, RAB, army personnel and intelligence agencies were working on the law and order situation there.
“You will soon see a large-scale operation there,” he said.
Referring to cattle markets before Eid-ul-Azha, Masud said sacrificial animals would be traded at 245 cattle markets across Chattogram this year, alongside some smaller local markets.
“There are large financial transactions at cattle markets. If anyone carries a large amount of money and feels insecure, police will provide escort support upon request,” he said.
