Operation Devil Hunt (Bengali: অপারেশন ডেভিল হান্ট) is an ongoing operation launched by the Yunus interim government since 8 February 2025 following protests over a violent attack on students and civilians in Gazipur on 7 February.[2][3][4][5] The operation hunts down supporters of Sheikh Hasina.[6][7][8]

Background

Main article: 2025 Gazipur anti-Awami League protest

Anti-discrimination Students Movement launched an attack on the house of AKM Mozammel Haque, former Minister of Liberation War Affairs in the cabinet of Sheikh Hasina, as a part of the Bulldozer March.[9][10] During this demonstration, a person at a local mosque announced people were attacking the former Minister's home, leading locals to counter-attack the demonstrators, causing 15 to be injured,[9] and one of them later died in hospital.[11] It was part of a wave of attacks targeting homes of Awami League leaders, while chanting "Delhi or Dhaka — Dhaka, Dhaka" and slogans against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's cult of personality.[12] The home of former President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Dhanmondi 32 no. residence, was destroyed and the personal home of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sudha Sadan, was burned down.[13][14] The home of former Minister Zahid Ahsan Russel, along with the homes of his family members associated with the Awami League were also attacked by protesters in Gazipur. A mural of Ahsanullah Master, Zahid's father, was also destroyed during this attack.[15]

The Jatiya Nagorik Committee and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement gave 24 hours to detain those who attacked the students at home of Haque.[16] They demanded the cancellation of the registration of Awami League and confiscation of the properties of its leaders.[16] The training secretary of Gazipur Metropolitan unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir, Haider Ali, called for the detention of the attackers as well.[16] They called for the removal of the Adviser of the Ministry of Home Affairs, civil and police officer in Gazipur District.[17] Lt. Gen. (retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, adviser of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said, "No one involved in the attack on the students will be spared. We are taking legal action against them. All responsible for the attack will be exposed to justice," at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital while visiting the injured.[18] The office-in-charge of the local police station was suspended and the commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, Nazmul Karim Khan, offered his apology.[19]

Operation

On 9 February, 83 people, including Awami League politicians and members, were detained in the Gazipur District.[20] In total, 1,308 people were arrested across Bangladesh.[21] 343 more people were arrested from various parts of Bangladesh the following day.[22] 607 people detained on the third day taking total number of detainees to more than two thousand.[23] A total of 11,313 people has been arrested in the ongoing operation.[1]

By March, more than 12 thousand people were detained across Bangladesh.[24]

Reception

The Jatiya Party (E) accused that the operation was a "suppression of dissent" and alleged that their leaders were being charged on false charges while their homes were being attacked and destroyed.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b অপারেশন ডেভিল হান্ট: ১৯তম দিনে গ্রেফতার ৭৪৩, মোট ১১৩১৩. Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). 27 February 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  2. ^ "'Operation Devil Hunt' from today to maintain law and order". The Daily Star. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  3. ^ "'Operation Devil Hunt' starts countrywide today". Prothom Alo. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  4. ^ ""Operation Devil Hunt" launched nationwide following Gazipur attack". United News of Bangladesh. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  5. ^ "Bangladesh launches 'Operation Devil Hunt' after student protests turn violent". Firstpost. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  6. ^ Nath, Sanstuti (10 February 2025). "Operation Devil Hunt: How Bangladesh Is Hunting Sheikh Hasina Loyalists". NDTV. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  7. ^ Banerjee, Aveek (9 February 2025). "Bangladesh Launches Major Crackdown On Sheikh Hasina's Loyalists, Calls It 'Operation Devil Hunt'". News18. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  8. ^ "Bangladesh arrests 1,300 in crackdown on Hasina loyalists". Dawn. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  9. ^ a b "15 injured in 'attempts to vandalise Mozammel Haque's Gazipur house'". New Age (Bangladesh). 8 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Bangladesh: Clashes erupt during Bulldozer Program in Gazipur, 15 injured". The Tribune. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  11. ^ গাজীপুরে সাবেক মন্ত্রী মোজাম্মেলের বাড়িতে হামলায় আহত একজনের মৃত্যু. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 12 February 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  12. ^ "Bangladesh protesters target homes of Awami League leaders in fresh wave of vandalism". The Hindu. PTI. 6 February 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  13. ^ "Why a Bangladesh mob burned down home of independence icon Mujibur Rahman". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  14. ^ "After Dhanmondi 32, Hasina's residence Sudha Sadan set ablaze". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  15. ^ "Former state minister Zahid Ahsan Russel's house vandalised in Gazipur". The Business Standard. 7 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  16. ^ a b c "Jatiya Nagorik Committee issues 24-hour ultimatum for arrests in Gazipur". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  17. ^ "Home adviser's resignation, police commissioner and DC's removal demanded". Prothom Alo. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  18. ^ "None will be spared involved in attack on students in Gazipur: Home adviser". The Business Standard. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  19. ^ গাজীপুরে হামলার ঘটনায় ওসি প্রত্যাহার, ক্ষমা চাইলেন মহানগর পুলিশ কমিশনার. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 8 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  20. ^ "Operation Devil Hunt: 83 held in Gazipur". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  21. ^ "Operation Devil Hunt: 1,308 arrested nationwide". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  22. ^ "1,521 arrested, 343 in Operation Devil Hunt". New Age (Bangladesh). 11 February 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  23. ^ প্রতিবেদক, নিজস্ব (11 February 2025). অপারেশন ডেভিল হান্টে আরও ৬০৭ জন গ্রেপ্তার, তিন দিনে গ্রেপ্তার দুই হাজারের বেশি. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  24. ^ "569 more held under 'Operation Devil Hunt'". The Business Standard. 2025-03-01. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
  25. ^ "'Suppression of dissent' under way in name of Devil Hunt, says GM Quader". Bdnews24.com. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
Allikas: Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Devil_Hunt
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