Authorities in Chattogram seized over 20,000 suspected uniforms believed to be linked to the armed group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF).
The seizure was made by Detective Branch (DB) police on the night of May 17 from Ringvo Apparels, located in the Noyarhat area under Bayezid Bostami Police Station.
The uniforms, totaling 20,300 pieces, were allegedly ordered under a Tk 20 million deal.
Three individuals have been arrested in connection with the case: garment factory owner Shahedul Islam and two intermediaries, Golam Azam and Niaz Haider, who allegedly placed the uniform order.
The DB police filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act on May 18, naming these three as well as Monghlaseng Marma (37) of Kaptai, Rangamati.
Though a case has been filed, Chattogram police officials have remained silent. Attempts to reach the investigating officer, police station officer-in-charge, and the police commissioner were unsuccessful, as none agreed to provide formal statements.
However, Md. Kamruzzaman, production manager of Ringvo Apparels and the first witness in the seizure report, told reporters that they were unaware the order was illicit until the police arrived.
According to the case details, the uniform order was placed in March by Golam Azam and Niaz Haider, who had secured the deal with a man named Monghlaseng Marma for Tk 20 million. Delivery of the uniforms was scheduled for this month.
The KNF is a banned armed organization allegedly involved in extortion, murder, abduction, and other violent crimes across the hilly districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Bandarban.
Authorities allege that the accused raised funds from various illegal sources to undermine Bangladesh`s unity, public security, and sovereignty.
The KNF first emerged around two to three years ago via a Facebook page, announcing their aim to establish an independent state from nine upazilas in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The group has since been accused of armed attacks, extortion, and killings, and is also alleged to have provided training to Islamist militants. They have been involved in multiple armed clashes with law enforcement.
The group made headlines recently after conducting coordinated armed robberies at three bank branches in two upazilas of Bandarban within 17 hours, causing nationwide alarm.
