A high-ranking official of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was killed and at least three other members were seriously injured after a mob of 400 to 500 people launched a brutal attack on an operational team in Jungle Salimpur under Sitakunda Upazila on Monday evening.
The deceased has been identified as Md Motaleb Hossain Bhuiyan, a Nayeb Subedar of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) serving on deputation as a Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) at RAB-7.
The Incident
According to RAB sources, a team of 43 members entered the Chinnamul area of Jungle Salimpur around 6:00 PM to apprehend armed terrorists. Sensing the presence of law enforcement, local miscreants reportedly used loudspeakers to incite the residents and gather a crowd.
Within minutes, a mob of nearly 500 people, armed with sticks and sharp weapons, surrounded the RAB vehicles. CCTV footage from the area shows the attackers chasing and smashing the windows of two RAB microbuses.
“The attackers made announcements over the microphone to block the entrance gates and trap the team,” said A R M Mozaffar Hossain, Assistant Director (Media) of RAB-7.
Casualties and Rescue
Four RAB members and a local source named Mana were critically injured in the ambush. They were rescued with the help of the Sitakunda police and rushed to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Chattogram, where the attending doctors declared Md Motaleb Hossain Bhuiyan dead.
The other injured members are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. Images from the scene showed a room stained with blood where the injured officers were initially held before being moved by police.
A Hotbed of Crime
Jungle Salimpur, a rugged hilly terrain spanning 3,100 acres, has long been known as a “forbidden city” and a safe haven for land grabbers and terrorists. For four decades, illegal settlements have flourished there through the destruction of government hills.
Land grabbers maintain a private armed militia to protect their multi-billion taka “plot business.” Entry for outsiders is strictly regulated by these gangs, who even issue illegal identity cards to residents.
Past Attacks on Law Enforcement
This is not the first time law enforcers have been targeted in this area:
- September 2023: 20 officials, including an Executive Magistrate and the Sitakunda OC, were injured during an eviction drive.
- August 2022: Administration officials were blocked and attacked after an operation.
- February 2022: A gunfight broke out between RAB and local terrorists.
RAB-7 officials stated that efforts are underway to identify the perpetrators. Following the incident, additional forces from the Police, RAB, and the Army have been deployed, and a joint operation is reportedly being prepared to flush out the criminal networks in the area.
The first Namaz-e-Janaza for Md Motaleb Hossain Bhuiyan was scheduled to be held today at the RAB-7 headquarters in Patenga, with the Director General of RAB, A K M Shahidur Rahman, in attendance.
