Police Propose Armed Police Battalion Camps and AI Surveillance to Curb Rising Violence in Chittagong Hill Tracts

CHATTOGRAM — Law enforcement authorities have identified the vast, rugged forested terrain across the Raozan, Rangunia, and Fatikchhari upazilas of Chattogram as a sanctuary for armed criminal groups. Following a series of violent incidents, including public shootings and murders, authorities have proposed the establishment of four Armed Police Battalion (APBn) camps to tighten security and curb criminal activity.

The proposal, submitted by the Chattogram Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police to police headquarters last month, seeks to deploy 220 personnel across four new camps—one in Raozan, two in the Rajanagar and Padua areas of Rangunia, and one in Fatikchhari. Each camp is envisioned to house a full platoon of APBn officers.

According to police assessments, the region’s difficult topography allows armed individuals to carry out attacks and subsequently retreat into the remote hills, evading capture by local police units. Authorities also suspect these areas are used as corridors for the trafficking of illicit goods, including weapons, narcotics, and wildlife.

The security crisis has been exacerbated since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024. Local data indicates that in Raozan alone, 25 murders—18 of which were linked to political rivalry—have been reported, alongside over 100 shooting incidents that have left more than 350 people injured. Recent high-profile murders, including the June 13 killing of Rangunia Upazila Jubo Dal leader Masudul Haque Chowdhury, have fueled public alarm.

Beyond physical deployment, the police proposal incorporates advanced technological measures. Officials intend to install artificial intelligence (AI)-integrated cameras at key entry and exit points used by criminals and utilize thermal drones to conduct surveillance over dense, inaccessible forest cover. Additionally, personnel from the Range Reserve Force will be tasked with continuous patrolling to monitor the transit of vehicles and suspected individuals.

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Additional DIG Md. Nazimul Haque, who led the field survey for the proposal, emphasized that criminals in these regions are often heavily armed and utilize local forest clusters as tactical bases. “The establishment of these camps, coupled with AI surveillance and thermal imaging, is essential to identifying and disrupting the movement of these armed groups,” he said.

APBn Chief and Additional Inspector General Hasib Aziz confirmed receipt of the proposal, noting that the deployment is critical for the terror-prone zones of Raozan and Rangunia. However, he noted that current manpower constraints within the battalion remain a challenge, and efforts to establish the camps will accelerate as new recruits become available.

Local representatives and security analysts underscore the urgency of the initiative. Rangunia lawmaker Humman Quader Chowdhury stated that he has discussed the necessity of these camps with the Minister of Home Affairs, expressing optimism for a swift resolution. Meanwhile, academic experts, including former Chattogram University Criminology Department head Md. Sakhawat Hossain, have urged law enforcement to match the technical proficiency of criminal networks, noting that sophisticated surveillance is the only viable path to preventing assailants from vanishing into the mountainous interior after committing crimes.