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Chittagong, June 3, 2025 – Police have raided a garment factory in Chittagong on charges of manufacturing uniforms for the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), a hilly armed group. Four people, including Tarequl Islam, the younger brother of Chittagong Metropolitan Awami League treasurer and former MP Abduch Salam, have been arrested in this raid. The incident has created a huge stir in political and security circles.
The raid was conducted on Monday (June 2) night at the 'Well Fabrics and Well Composite' factory located in the Kalurghat BSCIC industrial area of Chandgaon police station in the city. A covered van loaded with Than cloth used to make KNF uniforms was seized during the raid.
Aftab Uddin, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chandgaon police station, confirmed the incident and said that a team of them raided the factory based on a secret tip-off. He said, "We had information that KNF uniforms were being made in various factories in the city by purchasing fabrics from Well Fabrics."
Among the four arrested, Tarequl Islam is the Managing Director of Well Fabrics. The other three arrested are the company's officials Touhidul Islam (Marketing Senior Manager), Jamalul Islam (Assistant Manager, Masting) and Md. Atiqur Rahman (Senior Production Manager). According to the police, they were involved in supplying fabrics to make KNF uniforms.
Police investigation also revealed that 20,300 pieces of KNF uniforms were seized from a factory called 'Ringvo Apparels' in Bayezid area on May 17. Then, 11,785 pieces were recovered from another warehouse on May 26 and another 15,000 pieces of uniforms were recovered from the 'Noor Fashion' factory in Pahartali on May 27. So far, more than 47,000 KNF uniforms have been seized in the operation by the law enforcement agencies. Initial evidence has been found that the fabric used in these seized uniforms was supplied by Well Composite Knit Limited.
Several cases have been filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act in various police stations concerned in this incident. Earlier arrested Ringvo Apparels owner Shahedul Islam and Noor Fashion owner Matiur Rahman, along with others, are being interrogated on remand.
The involvement of the Awami League leader's brother has made this incident even more sensitive. Former MP Abduch Salam is the founding chairman of Well Group. He was also the chairman of the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) for nine years during the Awami League government.
After this incident, new questions have arisen about the activities of the armed group KNF active in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and their patronage. Law enforcement agencies are seriously investigating the matter and the process is underway to bring all the individuals and organizations involved in it under the law.
