The prime accused in the murder of a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officer has issued a stark warning to authorities over potential operations in Chittagong’s Jungle Salimpur area. Mohammad Yasin, speaking at his office in Alinagar, Jungle Salimpur, declared that any arbitrary or poorly planned crackdown could trigger “a massive public explosion.”
A video of Yasin’s remarks, lasting approximately 29 minutes, surfaced on social media on Thursday, following his statements on Wednesday afternoon. In it, Yasin insisted he and his associates were not terrorists, asserting that the land in Jungle Salimpur was legally acquired property. “No one can evict us from here. Even a former district administrator who attempted eviction has disappeared,” he claimed.
Yasin repeatedly warned that any unintended incident in the area would result in widespread unrest. He stressed that the administration would be held accountable for such consequences. He also questioned the legitimacy and execution of RAB’s recent Monday operation in the area and attributed local unrest to Rokn Uddin, former joint secretary (sacked) of Chattogram North District Jubo Dal.
The Monday operation by RAB-7 ended tragically when Deputy Assistant Director (Naeb Subedar) Motaleb Hossain Bhuiya was killed during a violent attack. Following the incident, RAB filed a case with Sitakunda Police on Wednesday night, naming Mohammad Yasin as the chief accused. The case lists 29 individuals by name, including Nurul Haque Bhandari, and an additional 200 unnamed suspects.
According to the case file, RAB personnel were assaulted with machetes, sickles, and sticks under Yasin’s directives while attempting arrests. One detainee was forcibly freed, and four RAB members were kidnapped but later rescued by the army and police.
Key Details of the Incident
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Jungle Salimpur, Sitakunda, Chattogram |
| Area | 3,100 acres, near Asian Women University, Bayezid Bostami |
| Date of RAB operation | Monday, [specific date not mentioned] |
| Victim | Deputy Assistant Director Motaleb Hossain Bhuiya |
| Accused | Mohammad Yasin (chief), Nurul Haque Bhandari, 29 named, 200 unnamed |
| Alleged Crimes | Assault on RAB, abduction, resistance to eviction |
Jungle Salimpur, a rugged hilly region, has long been a stronghold for criminal factions, with decades of illegal settlements and ongoing land trading activities. Heavily armed groups patrol the area continuously. Past conflicts have resulted in casualties, including the October clash last year that left one dead and two journalists injured while covering the unrest.
Chittagong police confirmed that Yasin remains at large and their operation to apprehend him is ongoing. RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman stated that over 50 personnel were involved in Monday’s mission and a commission has now been formed to investigate whether procedural lapses occurred during the operation.