Home Minister: Jungle Salimpur Will No Longer Be a Criminal Safe Haven; No Innocent Resident Will Be Evicted

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed MP has warned of tough action against violence and criminal activities, declaring that Jungle Salimpur will no longer serve as a safe haven for criminals, while assuring that no innocent resident will be evicted from the area.

“We will eliminate terrorism from this region through a coordinated and strategic operation. Similar drives will also be conducted in the Betua and Tea Garden areas to free the entire region from the influence of terrorist groups,” he said.

The minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters during a visit to Jungle Salimpur on Sunday afternoon. Located in the hilly terrain of Sitakunda upazila near the Dhaka–Chattogram highway, the area is home to hundreds of illegally constructed slums and semi-concrete houses and has long been regarded as a stronghold of criminal activity.

Over the past decade and a half, repeated attempts by law enforcement agencies to restore administrative control in the area have faced violent resistance. Last year, a RAB officer was killed and several law enforcers were injured during operations when armed criminals launched attacks on security personnel.

Salahuddin also announced plans to establish a new prison in the Jungle Salimpur area. He alleged that certain vested groups have been spreading rumours about the eviction of local residents in an attempt to provoke unrest.

“The government has no intention of evicting people who were compelled by circumstances to settle in the area. Instead, we are actively considering their rehabilitation under a comprehensive plan,” he said.

Describing the administration as a people-oriented government, the minister urged residents not to be influenced by misinformation spread by vested interests.

Referring to recent incidents involving extortion, including gunfire at a businessman’s residence over illegal toll demands, Salahuddin said the government is treating such crimes with utmost seriousness and has intensified efforts to curb criminal activities in the Chattogram region since assuming office.

He noted that the Alinagar–Jungle Salimpur belt has been widely known as a refuge for terrorists for the past 17 years and reiterated the government's commitment to taking strict legal and administrative action against drug trafficking, violence, gambling and extortion nationwide.

“These four categories of crime will be addressed with the highest priority, and all efforts will be made to eradicate them completely,” he said.

Highlighting the limitations of the century-old Gambling Act of 1867, the minister said the law is inadequate for regulating modern online and offline gambling and betting activities. He revealed that the government has already initiated steps to draft a new law and hopes to introduce the necessary legal reforms in the next parliamentary session.

He also said amendments to the existing Narcotics Control Act are being considered, alongside plans to establish a special tribunal to expedite the disposal of thousands of long-pending drug-related cases.

Expressing concern over the rise of juvenile gangs, Salahuddin observed that many teenagers and underage youths are becoming involved in criminal activities. He argued that shortcomings in the current legal framework often prevent effective intervention, allowing some offenders to eventually become part of organised criminal networks.

The minister stressed the need for legal reforms and broader social awareness campaigns to protect young people from criminal influences and moral decline.

During the visit, he was accompanied by State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Barrister Mir Md Helaluddin, Chattogram City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain, Inspector General of Police Md. Ali Hossain Fakir, BGB Director General Major General Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, Divisional Commissioner Dr. Md. Ziauddin, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah, Chattogram Police Superintendent Masud Alam and other senior officials.

Later, the Home Minister chaired a meeting with senior officials from the district and divisional administrations and law enforcement agencies at the Chattogram Circuit House conference room. The meeting was also attended by the state minister, the city mayor and lawmakers from various constituencies.