Jungle Salimpur, a sprawling 3,100-acre expanse of government-owned hills in Sitakunda upazila near Chittagong city, has evolved into a fortified enclave of illegal settlements and criminal syndicates. On January 19, a RAB-7 team entered Jungle Salimpur to arrest armed criminals, including gang leader Yasin Mia, during a BNP office inauguration. After the August 5, 2024 political shift, infighting escalated over land control and illicit trades, with recent beatings of RAB personnel. Local Journalists admitted that political patronage is a key reason the government has failed to reclaim Jungle Salimpur, where at least 20,000 residents represent a significant voting bloc. Chittagong Additional SP Russell Mia noted at a press conference that Jungle Salimpur hosts more rootless migrants from various regions than locals, making mass arrests inevitable in any raid.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 28, 2026 21:24 UTC