Jungle Salimpur: Tackle Crime without Hurting the Innocent

Years of neglect, illegal land occupation and criminal activity have turned Jungle Salimpur into a major security concern in Chattogram. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has announced plans to establish permanent security installations across more than 3,100 acres. We welcome this effort to restore law and order. However, the government must ensure that its drive against crime does not punish ordinary families for years of administrative failure.

The plan includes a new police academy, the relocation of Chattogram Central Jail, and permanent bases for the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Special Reserve Battalion (SRB) and Armed Police Battalion. Meanwhile, two new army camps in Noakhalipara and Rangikhali in Cox's Bazar aim to tackle abductions and cross-border crime. These installations could strengthen security, but their presence alone will not dismantle criminal networks. The authorities must investigate crimes, break up extortion rackets and bring offenders to justice. Moreover, security agencies must share intelligence and coordinate their operations to prevent criminals from exploiting gaps in law enforcement.

Against this backdrop, the government must address the failures that allowed lawlessness to grow. Poor land management and weak administration have given criminal groups room to expand their influence. Therefore, the authorities must clarify land ownership, investigate illegal occupation and hold those responsible accountable. Better roads and other infrastructure could connect the area to the wider economy, but development will have little impact if criminals continue to intimidate residents and control local activities.

More importantly, the authorities must distinguish between criminal operators and ordinary families. Some residents may have settled on disputed land after trusting false promises, while others may have few alternatives. We cannot treat everyone as a criminal simply because they live in an illegally occupied area. At the same time, concern for vulnerable families must not shield those who profit from crime. Any eviction or relocation must follow due process and protect residents from arbitrary displacement. Security forces must also remain accountable for their actions.

We believe the government’s initiative deserves serious consideration, but its success must depend on results rather than the number of installations it builds. Have abductions declined? Are extortion networks losing their grip? Can residents resolve land disputes and seek justice without fear? These are the questions that should guide the government’s assessment. Regular reviews and better coordination among security agencies and civilian administrators will help ensure lasting improvements.

Ultimately, Jungle Salimpur needs more than a security crackdown. It needs effective administration, fair land management and respect for human rights. Permanent installations may hel p restore order; nevertheless, the government must protect innocent families while bringing criminals to justice. Its real achievement will be to reclaim the area from criminal control without making vulnerable residents pay the price for years of neglect.