DHAKA, May 17, 2026 (BSS) – The Bangladesh Army, in its drive on Saturday  noon, have detained three members of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF-main), including its alleged toll collector Ronel Chakma, from the Budongchhara area under Guimara Region in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

Arms, ammunition and extortion-related materials were recovered during the operation conducted around on Saturday noon, according to a press release issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate early today.

The ISPR said an army team took position in the area around 12 noon based on specific intelligence inputs. Later, several armed men riding two motorcycles attempted to cross the spot. 

But when army personnel signaled them to stop, the suspects allegedly opened fire on the troops, prompting the soldiers to retaliate in self-defence.

During the exchange of fire, a UPDF (main) member, identified as Sathoai Marma, 32, sustained bullet injuries. Army personnel also detained Ronel Chakma, 28, and Searching Marma alias Raju, 22, from the scene.

The army team later recovered one AK-22 rifle with a magazine, six rounds of live ammunition, one fired cartridge case and other related equipment.

Such operations would continue in the CHT region to maintain peace, harmony and stability and to curb terrorism and extortion activities, the ISPR said.