Despite repeated enforcement operations, law and order has yet to be fully restored in Jungle Salimpur, exposing the limits of conventional policing in addressing one of the most complex governance and land management challenges in the Chattogram region.
Jungle Salimpur, a vast hillside settlement in Sitakunda upazila on the outskirts of Chattogram, is a striking example of how migration, environmental displacement, unplanned urbanisation and weak land administration can combine to create challenges that extend far beyond law enforcement. The recurring cycle of intervention, temporary control and reoccupation points to the need for a broader and more sustainable policy response.
Once a largely forested stretch of government 'khas' land, Jungle Salimpur has gradually evolved into a densely populated informal settlement shaped by migration, unplanned expansion, environmental pressure and contested land administration.
Although successive operations by law enforcement agencies have demonstrated the state's capacity to intervene, they have not delivered lasting control or long-term stability.
The origins of the current situation can be traced to the early 1990s, when settlement had begun, expanding across the hilly terrain. As Chattogram's economy grew, demand for affordable housing rose sharply. Thousands of low-income families seeking work were drawn to the area. Over the time, sections of the hills were cut and converted into residential plots, while informal land transactions emerged to accommodate a rapidly growing population.
Unlike planned urban development, expansion in Jungle Salimpur largely took place outside formal land allocation and planning frameworks. Access to land was determined by occupation, informal arrangements and local negotiation rather than documented ownership. A parallel land system gradually emerged, entangling questions of ownership, settlement and governance.
One of the most sensitive dimensions of the issue is its human cost. Many residents are not only economic migrants but also climate-displaced people affected by river erosion, cyclones and tidal flooding, largely from coastal districts -such as Feni and Noakhali. For many, Jungle Salimpur has represented one of the few available options for shelter near economic opportunities in the Chattogram metropolitan area.
This reality complicates enforcement. Large-scale eviction or clearance raises concerns over displacement, housing insecurity and humanitarian impact. Authorities face a persistent dilemma: Balancing land administration and legal enforcement with the needs of vulnerable populations who often have no viable alternatives.
The area's physical geography further complicates governance. Steep hills, narrow pathways and densely packed settlements make access and monitoring difficult. These conditions limit mobility, reduce visibility and hinder sustained administrative presence.
Security officials acknowledge that maintaining control after enforcement operations is often more difficult than conducting the operations. Once temporary deployments end, previous settlement patterns and informal control mechanisms tend to re-emerge, reinforcing a cycle of intervention and reoccupation.
Over the time, informal governance structures have also taken root. Residents often rely on local leaders and community committees to resolve disputes, regulate settlement activity and manage day-to-day affairs. While such systems provide functional order in the absence of formal services, they can also operate alongside or outside state institutions, complicating efforts to establish consistent administrative authority.
Population density intensifies these challenges. Though no reliable census exists, local estimates suggest more than 150,000 people may now live in Jungle Salimpur. This creates significant pressure on housing, water, roads, drainage, healthcare, education and electricity, further straining already fragile systems.
Environmental degradation is another major concern. Unregulated hill cutting have destabilised slopes, increasing the risk of erosion and landslides - mostly during the monsoon season. Experts warn that continued degradation could lead to irreversible ecological damage and heightened safety risks.
Yet the enforcement of environmental protections faces the same structural constraints as land administration: Limited institutional presence, contested land use and entrenched settlement patterns.
Political considerations further complicate the situation. With a large population, Jungle Salimpur represents a significant local constituency. That is why, enforcement actions are often politically sensitive, shaped by local alliances, competing interests and electoral calculations.
Previous attempts to introduce infrastructure and development projects have also stalled. Proposals for roads, public facilities and institutional services have -time and again-been delayed due to unresolved questions over land ownership, settlement status and long-term governance arrangements. This has created a persistent policy deadlock: Development requires stability, while stability depends on development.
The experience of Jungle Salimpur reflects a broader regional pattern across rapidly urbanising parts of South Asia, where migration, climate displacement, housing shortages and weak land governance intersect to produce large informal settlements that cannot be resolved through enforcement only.
The persistence of law and order challenges in Jungle Salimpur stems from disputed land ownership, large-scale settlement, climate-induced migration, difficult terrain, environmental degradation and the emergence of informal governance structures. These factors allow state authority to be asserted temporarily but make long-term consolidation difficult.
Officials and urban planners argue that lasting stability will require a comprehensive, integrated approach: Effective land administration, continuous institutional presence, environmental protection, expanded social services and carefully planned rehabilitation or resettlement where necessary.
Jungle Salimpur is -no longer- merely a law-and-order concern. It has become a test case for governance in an era of rapid urbanisation and climate-driven displacement. The challenge for policymakers is not simply to maintain order, but to build a framework that balances land administration, environmental protection, social welfare and urban development.
Without such a coordinated strategy, the settlement is likely to remain trapped in a recurring cycle of enforcement and reoccupation. Lasting stability will depend not on periodic interventions, but on sustained governance capable of addressing the structural forces that created the problem.
The writer is a journalist, The Daily Observer
