In the early hours of Monday, at approximately 3:30 a.m., a dramatic exchange of gunfire occurred between law enforcement officers and suspected terrorists in the Chalitoli area under the jurisdiction of Bayeziid Bostami Police Station in Chattogram. The confrontation resulted in one suspected militant being injured by gunfire, while two individuals were apprehended in possession of a substantial cache of firearms and illegal narcotics.
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
Mohammad Ishtiaq Hasan Emon, aged 26
Md. Jasim, aged 35
According to police sources, authorities received intelligence that followers of the notorious local crime leader, Big Sajjad, were hiding in a residential property in Chalitoli. Acting on this information, a joint operation involving the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and local police was launched. Upon detecting the arrival of law enforcement, the occupants reportedly opened fire from inside the building. Officers returned fire, ultimately apprehending one militant, who sustained a gunshot wound to the head, while another was arrested along with an extensive arsenal of weapons and narcotics.
Additional Police Commissioner Wahidul Haque Chowdhury confirmed the details at a press conference held at the CMP Media Centre on Tuesday afternoon. He stated that the following items were recovered from the scene:
| Serial | Recovered Items | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foreign pistols | 2 |
| 2 | Submachine gun (SMG) | 1 |
| 3 | Pipe gun | 1 |
| 4 | Pistol magazines | 3 |
| 5 | Live pistol rounds | 455 |
| 6 | Live shotgun cartridges | 14 |
| 7 | Local firearms | Unknown |
| 8 | Yaba and MDMA tablets | 880 |
| 9 | Body-worn cameras | 2 |
| 10 | Firearm repair kit box | 1 |
| 11 | Motorcycle | 1 |
Commissioner Chowdhury further revealed that both detainees admitted during preliminary questioning that the seized weapons were used by Big Sajjad’s militant group. Police have launched an ongoing investigation to trace the origin of the firearms and drugs.
Authorities emphasised that residents of Chattogram have no reason to panic, assuring that security personnel remain deployed across the city 24 hours a day. This operation is regarded as a critical step in curbing terrorist activities and ensuring public safety.
Police officials believe the raid has delivered a significant setback to the operations of one of the city’s most active criminal networks. All recovered materials have been meticulously documented, and investigations are continuing to dismantle remaining threats. Despite understandable public concern over safety, law enforcement authorities maintain that they are vigilantly monitoring the situation and taking swift action as required.