Bangladesh’s security forces have taken 1,308 persons into custody as part of “Operation Devil Hunt,” a nationwide crackdown that was started overnight to put an end to the vandalism and unrest that had been raging throughout the nation for four days.
After student activists were hurt in an attack on an Awami League leader’s home outside of Dhaka, the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus-led temporary administration ordered the operation.
The operation will target individuals who aim to destabilize the nation, according to Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, who emphasized that the crackdown will continue until the “devils” are held accountable.
“What is meant by ‘devil’? It alludes to evil energies. Chowdhury clarified, “This operation is targeted at those who attempt to destabilize the nation, violate the law, commit crimes, and carry out acts of terrorism.”
The arrests took place in major cities and other regions of the nation; 81 members of the Awami League, the party of the ousted prime leader Sheikh Hasina, were taken into custody in Gazipur.
Since Hasina’s administration was overthrown, numerous prominent ministers and Awami League leaders have been on the run, and the violence started when an attack broke out on the home of former Liberation War Affairs Minister Mozammel Haque.
Notably, Sheikh Hasina, the 77-year-old former Prime Minister, left Bangladesh and has been residing in India ever then. Due to their violent suppression of the July public uprising that ultimately led to the overthrow of her government, she and her senior colleagues were accused of a number of crimes, including crimes against humanity.
Leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement said that while their activists attempted to stop looting at the former minister’s home, they were attacked by criminals. Rebels shot a student in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, injuring him.
Hasina’s live online speech set off a nationwide outbreak of violence, with crowds attacking and damaging the homes and businesses of the ousted prime minister’s supporters. The famous home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh, was also set on fire by protesters.
The deposed premier’s family and the leaders of her “fascist” Awami League were targeted with attacks, and Chief Adviser Yunus demanded “complete law and order” and an end to violence.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, warned that the resurgence of “fascist” elements could result from the interim government’s inability to suppress “mob culture” and restore law and order.
