At least 316 people, including 308 civilians and eight members of security forces, have been killed in attacks by armed groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) over the past five years, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told parliament on Wednesday.

Another 490 people, including 435 civilians and 55 security personnel, were injured during the period. Armed groups also carried out 97 attacks on security forces, he said.

The minister disclosed the figures during the question-and-answer session of the third sitting of the fourth session of parliament, responding to a question from SA Jinnah Kabir, a lawmaker from Manikganj-1.

Kabir asked about the number of incidents in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban districts over the past five years, as well as the casualties among civilians and security personnel.

In his response, Salahuddin said armed groups had carried out 194 attacks on the Bengali community and 81 attacks on ethnic minority communities during the period.

There were also 297 incidents of abduction, 471 cases of extortion and 377 instances of illegal firearm use by armed groups, he added.

The minister said the armed forces' special operation, Operation Uttoron, was ongoing to maintain law and order in the region and curb the activities of armed groups.

He said the Bangladesh Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police and Special Response Battalion (SRB) had intensified regular patrols and intelligence operations to prevent armed activities. Authorities had also adopted a strict approach towards illegal firearms holders, extortionists and armed criminals in the hills.

Cases were being filed under existing laws against individuals accused of specific offences, bringing them under the legal process, he added.

Salahuddin said local administrations were working round the clock to ensure the security of people living in the hill districts.

Special joint operations involving the Bangladesh Army, BGB, police and SRB were being conducted regularly to dismantle the activities of both newly formed and established regional armed groups and recover illegal firearms.

Based on intelligence reports, joint forces were also conducting operations in remote hilly areas to destroy the hideouts and training camps of armed groups. Helicopters were being deployed when necessary, depending on the availability of air force support, he said.

The minister further said authorities had identified the main sources of income and financial networks behind extortion by armed groups and placed them under strict surveillance.

The number of security checkpoints had been increased, while intelligence monitoring of mobile financial services and other financial transactions had been strengthened to prevent extortion.

The BGB had also enhanced its capabilities to prevent the smuggling of illegal firearms and drugs across the borders, with surveillance stepped up in remote areas along the borders with India's Mizoram state and Myanmar.

Police and the SRB were also identifying networks and sources in the plains involved in supplying weapons and military uniforms to armed groups, Salahuddin said.

He added that hundreds of active members of various regional armed groups had been arrested through ongoing and special joint operations in the hills.

Security forces had also recovered large quantities of advanced firearms, live ammunition, magazines, combat uniforms, drones and communication equipment used by the armed groups during these operations.