Chittagong’s Sitakunda area was rocked by violence on Monday when armed assailants attacked a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) operation in Junglesalimpur, resulting in the death of RAB Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) Naib Subedar Motaleb Hossain Bhuiya. Following the incident, Sitakunda Police have filed a formal case, listing a total of 229 suspects, while three individuals have already been arrested.
The case was officially lodged late Wednesday night by another RAB Deputy Assistant Director. The complaint specifically names 29 individuals, including the notorious local gang leader Mohammad Yasin of Alinagar and his associate Nurul Haque Bhandari. In addition, 200 others whose identities are yet unknown have been listed as suspects.
Police have so far apprehended three suspects, including two named in the complaint: Mohammad Yunus and Zahid Hasan. The third arrestee is Arif Hossain, whose name was not listed in the FIR. All three have been sent to jail following court proceedings.
| Name | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Yunus | FIR-named suspect | Remanded in custody |
| Zahid Hasan | FIR-named suspect | Remanded in custody |
| Arif Hossain | Other suspect | Remanded in custody |
Sitakunda Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohinul Islam confirmed the arrests to local media, noting that operations were conducted across various locations in Junglesalimpur following the filing of the case. OC Islam added that Yasin, the principal accused, is already facing four prior criminal cases, while his associate Bhandari has seven pending cases. Police raids to apprehend additional suspects are ongoing.
The fatal attack took place around 4 pm on Monday. Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants had taken four RAB members and one local individual hostage, dragging them nearly three kilometres into the remote Alinagar area. They were confined in a newly constructed shop where the victims were beaten, and four RAB pistols were seized by the attackers. Subsequently, a police team led by Fouzdarhat Inspector Sohel Rana rescued the four hostages and recovered the stolen firearms from the vicinity of the shop.
The incident has sparked widespread concern among local residents, highlighting the persistent risks faced by law enforcement in the area. Authorities have pledged intensified operations to apprehend all suspects and restore security.