Attack Targeting RAB Members Announced Over Microphone

In a shocking escalation of violence in Sitakunda’s Salimpur area, a contingent of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members came under attack on Monday evening during an operation in the dense hills of Jangal Salimpur. According to RAB, between 400 and 500 assailants participated in the assault, which was reportedly coordinated via loudspeaker announcements.

The incident claimed the life of RAB Subedar Mohammad Motaleb Hossain Bhuiya and left at least three other RAB personnel seriously injured. The wounded officers were rushed to Chittagong Combined Military Hospital (CMH) with assistance from local police, where doctors confirmed the death of Subedar Bhuiya.

CCTV footage obtained from police sources shows two RAB microbuses (Hiace vans) arriving in the area, pursued by a group of locals armed with sticks. The assailants smashed the windows of the vehicles while a loudspeaker broadcast could be heard, urging residents to block the RAB’s access to the area. Another video captures several injured RAB personnel inside a room, bandaged and lying in blood-stained surroundings, being evacuated by police.

RAB-7 Chittagong Assistant Director for Media, A R M Mozzaffar Hossain, stated:

“Forty-three RAB members were on a mission to apprehend armed criminals in Salimpur. Upon detecting our presence, 400–500 individuals launched an organised attack. We are investigating the precise motive and identifying those involved.”

Jangal Salimpur has long been a stronghold for criminal activity. For over four decades, illegal settlements have expanded on cut hills, with ongoing land and plot trading fueling the rise of armed groups. The area is heavily guarded by these factions, restricting access to residents with identification cards; even police and government officials have frequently faced attacks.

The region is geographically isolated but lies close to Chittagong city, about two kilometres west of Bayezid Bostami and near the Asian University for Women. Over the past two years, disputes over control of Salimpur have led to multiple violent confrontations, including armed clashes in August 2022 and September 2023, leaving officials and journalists injured.

Key Incident Details – Salimpur Attack (20 January 2026)

Authorities have pledged to continue the investigation to uncover the motives behind the assault and hold the perpetrators accountable. The incident highlights the persistent challenges posed by entrenched criminal networks operating in Salimpur’s hill settlements.