[🇧🇩] Operation Devil Hunt

[Saif]

Date of Event: Feb 9, 2025

Source : https://www.newagebd.net/post/country/257505/operation-devil-hunt-launched-to-curb-crimes Short Summary: Monitoring the ongoing operation to arrest criminals.

Operation Devil Hunt launched to curb crimes
Staff Correspondent 09 February, 2025, 00:40

The government on Saturday launched ‘Operation devil hunt’ to be conducted by the joint forces across the country in a bid to restore deteriorating law and order, bringing the perpetrators of violent crimes to justice.

The decision came at a law and order meeting convened at the home ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat in the wake of a violent attack on students and people in Gazipur on Friday night, said a home ministry press release issued on Saturday.

‘Several people were injured in an attack by ousted fascist criminals in Gazipur on Friday night,’ the release read.

The release also mentioned that details of the drive would be given through a press conference on Sunday.

At least 15 students were injured in a counterattack on Friday night by local people as several dozens of students reportedly went to attack the residence of AKM Mozammel Haque, the former liberation war affairs minister of the ousted Awami League regime.

The incident took place at about 10:00pm when people, including members of Student Movement Against Discrimination, attempted an attack on Mozammel Haque’s house in Gazipur city, according to the police and witnesses.

Following the incident, Gazipur Sadar police officer-in-charge Md Arifur Rahman has been withdrawn as he faced allegations of reaching the spot two hours later.

A spate of attacks was carried out on the house of Awami League leaders, party offices, and murals and portraits of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his daughter deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina since Wednesday evening when the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum building at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka city was razed to the ground.

The chaotic situation began when different groups on their social media platforms called on people to join the ‘Bulldozer procession’ to demolish the Dhanmondi 32 building as Sheikh Hasina, now sheltered in India, was scheduled to address the country’s student community online on Wednesday late evening.

Earlier on September 4, the joint forces began another drive across the country to recover illegal firearms.

According to the home ministry, 5,818 firearms belonging to the law enforcement forces were looted during the July-August student-mass uprising and in the aftermath of the fall of Sheikh Hasina regime on August 5.

Police headquarters officials said that they had lost 5,750 various types of firearms to the looters and recovered 4,358 of them till January 16 through joint drives.

The interim government led by Professor Muhamamd Yunus, which took over the office on August 8, has yet to streamline the law and order situation.

In the past six months since its takeover, robberies, political violence, murders, mob violence, extortions and other crimes have soared, while criticisms are leveled at law enforcement personnel that they are giving the cold shoulder to the victims and often remain indifferent to the rise of violent crimes.

The PHQ data shows that 628 robbery incidents were reported between August and December in 2024 with 159 in December alone against 496 during the timeframe in 2023.

A total of 1,565 murder cases were filed between August and December in 2024 against 1,199 cases during the timeframe in 2023, the data shows.

It also shows that at least 326 kidnapping cases were filed from August to December in 2024 with 74 in December alone against 229 kidnapping cases were filed in the last five months in 2023.

Frequent mugging incidents also becomes a concern in Dhaka city as seven cases were reported in August, 17 in September, 33 in October, 38 in November and 51 in December, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials.​

 

[Saif]

Operation Devil Hunt: 1,308 arrested so far

274 people were arrested from metropolitan cities, while 1,034 were detained from different parts of the country

www.thedailystar.net

Operation Devil Hunt: 1,308 arrested so far

Joint force members have arrested 1,308 individuals in "Operation Devil Hunt" as of noon today.

During the operation, 274 people were arrested from metropolitan cities, while 1,034 were detained from different parts of the country, said sources at the police headquarters.

The government launched Operation Devil Hunt yesterday, focusing on addressing criminal activities and maintaining law and order across the country.

The drive come following Friday night's attack on "students and common people" in Gazipur.

In Gazipur, 84 people have been arrested till now.​

 

[Saif]

Operation Devil Hunt to go on until devils are finished: home adviser

The countrywide crackdown — Operation Devil Hunt — will go on until the devils are finished, said home affairs adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury...

www.newagebd.net

Operation Devil Hunt to go on until devils are finished: home adviser
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka 09 February, 2025, 12:03

Home affairs adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. | UNB Photo

The countrywide crackdown — Operation Devil Hunt — will go on until the devils are finished, said home affairs adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.

‘The operation will target those who are desperate to destabilise the country,’ he warned on Sunday.

Jahangir Alam made the remarks while talking to reporters after inaugurating the newly-built Mrittika Bhaban at the Soil Resource Development Institute in Khamarbari area of the city.

‘Many of those who attacked students and the citizens in Gazipur have already been brought under the law, and the rest will be held soon,’ he said.

The ministry took action after the attack on students at the residence of former minister AKM Mozammel Haque in Gazipur on Friday night.

Following this, the government announced to launch Operation Devil Hunt, with the joint forces beginning operation from Saturday night.

The joint forces have so far arrested 40 people, suspected to be members of the Awami League, said Gazipur superintendent of police Chowdhury Jaber Sadek.

Regarding the arrest of five senior police officers, the adviser said the public was aware of the crimes committed by those arrested.​

 

[Saif]

'অপারেশন ডেভিল হান্ট' – কীভাবে শুরু হলো, উদ্দেশ্য কী

 

[Saif]

A show of force is not enough to curb crime and tensions

Operation Devil Hunt must be part of a broader strategy to restore order

www.thedailystar.net

A show of force is not enough to curb crime and tensions
Operation Devil Hunt must be part of a broader strategy to restore order

VISUAL: STAR

Given the turbulent events of the past week—marked by renewed anti-fascist protests, disruptions, and unanticipated pushback at times—the Operation Devil Hunt, launched nationwide on Saturday night, can be seen as mostly a step in the right direction. We say "mostly" because of its limited operational scope and overreliance on a law enforcement approach to an issue that extends far beyond policing. While announcing the drive, the home ministry stated that law enforcement forces would target "saboteurs who attacked students, individuals with warrants, and troublemakers" to curb mob violence and restore law and order. The decision follows an attack at the residence of former Awami League minister AKM Mozammel Haque in Gazipur, where a false alarm of robbery led to 15 people, including student leaders of the July uprising, being assaulted.

Since launching the drive, joint forces have detained 1,308 people across the country. It can be recalled that the joint forces, including the army, police, RAB, and BGB, have been active nationwide since September 4 to recover looted firearms and maintain law and order. Later, the government granted magistracy power to commissioned army officers so that they can intervene more decisively. That security issues have still persisted—as evidenced by the events on Wednesday and Thursday that led to the demolition of Mujib's Dhanmondi 32 residence, along with attacks, vandalism, and arson targeting Awami League-linked houses and establishments in 35 districts, and eventually to attacks on students—raises questions about how effective the latest operation will be, even within its stated goal of combating the remnants of Awami fascism.

The fact is, the security situation is too fluid at the moment to pin responsibility on any single entity. While some of the events of the past week can be traced to Awami League or Sheikh Hasina, some factions within the anti-fascist movement also bear responsibility for escalating tensions. The festering polarisation and rising extremism threaten to undermine the very ideals that fuelled the July uprising. The resulting chaos—readily exploited by criminal elements—cannot be neutralised by force alone.

The fact is, the security situation is too fluid at the moment to pin responsibility on any single entity. While some of the events of the past week can be traced to Awami League or Sheikh Hasina, some factions within the anti-fascist movement also bear responsibility for escalating tensions. The polarisation festering within different factions as well as rising extremism threaten to undermine the very ideals that fuelled the July uprising. The resulting chaos—readily exploited by criminal elements—cannot be neutralised by force alone. As an assessment of law and order under the interim government shows, criminals perceive the current environment as favourable for carrying out illicit activities, with a still weak and demoralised police force struggling to contain them.

Therefore, for Operation Devil Hunt to be effective, it cannot be just another show of force—it must be part of a broader strategy involving political parties and other stakeholders of post-uprising Bangladesh to restore order and stability. That means targeting not only remnants of Awami League's fascist apparatus but also those who are exploiting the current instability for personal or political gains. The authorities must also use the operation to tackle rising crime including mugging, extortion, and other public safety threats. They must send a strong message that no one involved in jeopardising public safety and law and order will be spared.​

 

[Saif]

OPERATION DEVIL HUNT: 607 more people arrested

Law enforcement agencies and security forces on Tuesday arrested 1,775 people, including 607 in Operation Devil Hunt, aimed at restoring the deteriorated law and order situation.

www.newagebd.net

OPERATION DEVIL HUNT: 607 more people arrested
Staff Correspondent 12 February, 2025, 00:01

Law enforcers arrest 4,614 in 3 days

Law enforcement agencies and security forces on Tuesday arrested 1,775 people, including 607 in Operation Devil Hunt, aimed at restoring the deteriorated law and order situation.

Some firearms and ammunition were also seized in the operation, said the police headquarters in a press release on Tuesday, detailing the seizures—two pistols, one LG, one shooter gun, one pipe gun, two rounds and sharp weapons.

Outside the Operation Devil Hunt, 1,168 arrests were made on Tuesday in different types of cases across the country, it said.

On Sunday when the government launched the countrywide police-led operation of the joint forces, 1,308 people were arrested, while on Monday 1,521 others, including 343 in Operation Devil Hunt, were arrested.

Most of the 4,604 individuals arrested in the drives, including the Operation Devil Hunt, in the three days are leaders and activists of Awami League and its allies, according to police officials.

On February 8, the government announced the launch of Operation Devil Hunt in the backdrop of February 7 violent attacks on students and people in Gazipur on Friday night, leaving 15 students injured.

Many Awami League leaders in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country are on the run to avoid arrest since February 8 night when the drive was launched.

At least 81 people were arrested in Gazipur on the third day of the Operation Devil Hunt, United News of Bangladesh reported.

New Age correspondent in Barishal reported that 42 people were arrested on Tuesday in the six districts in Barishal division.

At least 16 leaders of Awami League and its associate bodies were arrested from six upazilas in Feni on Tuesday, New Age correspondent in Feni reported, quoting Feni Model Police inspector investigation Iqbal Hossain.

At least 23 leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies were arrested in Mymensingh district on Tuesday, state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported, quoting Mymensingh district superintendent of police Kazi Akhter Ul Alam.

Operation Devil Hunt was announced in the aftermath of a spate of attacks was carried out on the houses of Awami League leaders, party offices, and the murals and portraits of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and his daughter deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina since February 5 when the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum building at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka was razed to the ground.

The chaotic situation unfolded when different groups on their social media platforms called on people to join the ‘Bulldozer procession’ to demolish the Dhanmondi 32 building as Sheikh Hasina, now sheltered in India, was scheduled to address the country’s student community online on February 5 late evening.​

 

[Bilal9]

My understanding is that this operation is mainly targeted at garden variety goonda-badmash type people, to get a handle on minor crime.

But what about the looters and money-launderers? No one targets those people.

 

[Saif]

OPERATION DEVIL HUNT: 591 more people arrested

Law enforcement agencies and security forces on Wednesday arrested 1,686 people, including 591 in the Operation Devil Hunt aimed at restoring the deteriorated law and order situation...

www.newagebd.net

OPERATION DEVIL HUNT: 591 more people arrested
Staff Correspondent 12 February, 2025, 23:59

Law enforcement agencies and security forces on Wednesday arrested 1,686 people, including 591 in the Operation Devil Hunt aimed at restoring the deteriorated law and order situation.

Firearms and ammunition, including one foreign pistol, two LG, four one-shooter guns, one Chinese riffle and three rounds of bullets, along with sharp weapons were also seized in the operation, said the police headquarters in a press release on Wednesday.

Outside the Operation Devil Hunt, 1,095 arrests were made on Wednesday in different types of cases across the country, it said.

Home adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury at a programme in Gazipur on Wednesday said that the nationwide ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ being carried out by the joint forces would continue as long as ‘devils’ existed.

On Sunday, on the day the government launched the countrywide police-led operation of the joint forces, 1,308 people were arrested, on Monday 1,521 others, including 343 in the Operation Devil Hunt, were arrested and on Tuesday 1,775 people, including 607 in the Operation Devil Hunt, were arrested.

Most of the 6,290 individuals arrested in the drives, including the Operation Devil Hunt, in the four days are leaders and activists of Awami League and its allies, according to police officials.

On February 8, the government announced the launch of Operation Devil Hunt against the backdrop of February 7 violent attacks on students and people in Gazipur that left 15 students injured.

Many Awami League leaders in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country have been on the run to avoid arrest since the night of February 8 when the drive was launched.

At least 28 leaders and activists of the AL and its affiliated bodies were arrested in special operation on Wednesday for their involvement in attacks on student protesters during the anti-discrimination movement, New Age correspondent in Chattogram reported.

Forty-eight people, suspected to be leaders and activists of AL, were arrested in Gazipur on the fourth day of the ongoing Operation Devil Hunt, the United News of Bangladesh reported.

New Age correspondent in Barishal reported that 35 people were arrested in Barishal division in the past 24 hours till Wednesday noon.

At least 14 leaders of the AL and its associate bodies were arrested from Khagrachari on Wednesday, New Age correspondent in Khagrachari reported, quoting Khagrachari superintendent of police Md Jewel Arefin.

Quoting additional superintendent of police Mohammad Ibrahim, New Age correspondent in Noakhali reported that at least 13 leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies were arrested in Noakhali district on Wednesday.

At least eight leaders and activists of the AL and its associate bodies were arrested from Feni on the day, New Age correspondent in Feni reported quoting Feni Model police station investigation inspector Iqbal Hossain.

The Operation Devil Hunt was announced in the aftermath of a spate of attacks carried out on the houses of Awami League leaders, party offices, and the murals and portraits of the country’s founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and his daughter deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina since February 5 when the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum building at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka was razed to the ground.

The chaotic situation ensued when different groups on their social media platforms called on people to join the ‘Bulldozer procession’ to demolish the Dhanmondi 32 building over the speech of Sheikh Hasina, now sheltered in India following her ouster amid a mass uprising, to the country’s student community online on February 5 evening.​

 

[Saif]

Operation Devil Hunt: 566 more arrested on fifth day

The joint forces have arrested 566 people across the country under 'Operation Devil Hunt' on the fifth day of the operation, according to the police headquarters. This brings the total number of arrests under the operation to 3,415 as of Thursday afternoon, it said. Some 1099 of the arrests were

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Operation Devil Hunt: 566 more arrested on fifth day
UNB
Published :
Feb 13, 2025 19:50
Updated :
Feb 13, 2025 19:56

The joint forces have arrested 566 people across the country under 'Operation Devil Hunt' on the fifth day of the operation, according to the police headquarters.

This brings the total number of arrests under the operation to 3,415 as of Thursday afternoon, it said.

Some 1099 of the arrests were in connection with different cases, it said.

During the fifth day's operations, the joint forces also recovered arms and ammunition, including two foreign-made pistols, two magazines, five bullets, and two sharp weapons.

The government launched the nationwide security operation on Saturday night, ostensibly aiming to curb unrest and ensure public safety.​

 

[Saif]

Operation Devil Hunt: 509 more arrested across the country

The joint forces arrested 509 people across the country on the sixth day of Operation Devil Hunt, according to the police headquarters

www.thedailystar.net

Operation Devil Hunt: 509 more arrested across the country

Illustration: Star Digital Graphics

The joint forces arrested 509 people across the country on the sixth day of Operation Devil Hunt, according to the police headquarters.

This brings the total number of arrests under the operation to 3,924 as of Friday afternoon, it said.

A further 948 arrests were made on the day, which fell outside the purview of Operation Devil Hunt.

During the sixth day's operations, the joint forces also recovered arms and ammunition including one shooter gun, one a barrel gun and some local weapons.

The government launched the nationwide security operation on Saturday night, aiming to curb unrest and ensure public safety.​

 

[Saif]

Devils, heroes, or something in between?

Should we continue to condone unregulated public outbursts?

www.thedailystar.net

Devils, heroes, or something in between?

It is crucial to understand the difference between fighting actual fascism and scoring symbolic victories in an already triumphant landscape. FILE PHOTO: PALASH KHAN

What's in a name? Quite a lot, actually. Names define identities. Names shape perceptions. They also help set narratives, assign blame, and even influence outcomes. It, therefore, makes sense that the simple act of naming a "mob" has suddenly become contentious because of all the baggage it brings with it in present-day Bangladesh. This debate—triggered by the launch of the Operation Devil Hunt following renewed anti-fascist campaigns and Adviser Mahfuj Alam's characterisation of mobs as "devils" in a stern warning to the Touhidi Janata—was perhaps inevitable in a country reborn through a violent uprising by individuals who would have been branded terrorists or anarchist mobs, and severely punished, had they failed. In a remarkable turnaround, they are now national heroes, and rightly so.

The question is, who qualifies as a mob then? Can such a generic term even capture the diversity and nuances of different groups? While Mahfuz was more specific in his portrayal, the home ministry was less so as it alluded to "saboteurs who attacked students," individuals with warrants against them, "troublemakers", and even the eponymous "devils" as targets of the joint forces operation. This could encompass, among others, anyone involved in the events between the demolition of the historic Dhanmondi 32 residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Gazipur incident, where anti-fascist protesters themselves became targets of a mob allegedly including Awami League activists. In other words, their identities can be as overlapping as conflicting. Despite their shared aggression, whether a group is labelled as protesters, agitators, or simply a mob can lead to vastly different public perceptions and politico-legal consequences.

So before diving into these complexities, let's establish the basics. A mob, by definition, is a large, disorderly crowd intent on causing disturbance or violence. If you search online, you will come across context-specific variations such as "woke mobs," "vigilante mobs," "nationalist mobs," "religious mobs," "troll mobs," etc. I remember writing about "lynch mobs" in 2019 when mass hysteria over a bizarre rumour—that human heads were being collected for Padma Bridge construction—led to seven people being killed. As I argued back then, mob violence "is not justice—it's what justice looks like when it is privatised and leased out to the most dominant groups in society." And whatever form it takes, and however justified the motive seems to be, it remains unacceptable in a democratic system where due process and rule of law are considered sacrosanct.

Since the fall of the Awami League government, there has been a wave of mob-related incidents leaving debilitating effects across various sectors, including education. On Monday, a group of individuals besieged a stall at the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela over a book by controversial writer Taslima Nasrin, forcing it to close. A day earlier, a mob torched the house of a double-murder suspect in Rangpur's Pirganj upazila. Similar disturbances, big or small, are surfacing almost regularly—a trend often attributed to the previous regime's authoritarian rule that fostered deep-seated anger and distrust among people. While such behaviour cannot be condoned, things get trickier when the target of this anger is Awami League itself, or what remains of it.

Another danger of encouraging mobism is how easily it can morph into various expressions of fanaticism. For instance, the same mobs that destroyed Mujib's murals and statues over the past months could feel emboldened to attack any structure, symbol or event that they perceive to be anti-religious. In fact, some already are. A recent video shows a man standing before the Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University, calling it a "murti" (Hindu idol) and urging its destruction. Monday's book fair assault, the disruptions of women's football matches in Joypurhat and Dinajpur, or the spate of attacks on shrines in recent months—all point to the uncontrollable effects of encouraging mobism.

The argument of those opposing the labelling of such acts as mob violence is, if I understand correctly, that any actions targeting the symbols of the ousted regime are necessary to prevent its resurgence. Theoretically, you cannot deny the logic—the gross human rights violations committed by the party during July-August alone, as highlighted again by the just-released fact-finding report of the UN human rights office, make this non-negotiable. The question, however, is not about the goal but the methods being used to achieve it. After the uprising, there was broad consensus that what happened during this period, including the destruction of public property and infrastructure, served a greater cause, and as such, participants faced no legal repercussions. But should such concessions still be granted six months later, when the nation is trying to claw its way back to some much-needed stability? The answer is self-evident.

"But what if there are provocations?" ask some. True, the Dhanmondi 32 demolition was largely a reaction to Sheikh Hasina's virtual speech from India—an act that, given the trauma of her reign of terror, was bound to provoke outrage. Had she not shown the audacity to attempt a political comeback while evading justice for her many crimes, the destruction could perhaps have been avoided. But this reasoning is tenuous at best and dangerous at worst.

Expecting a former dictator to behave responsibly is a naivety we cannot afford at this stage. What about our own responsibility to pre-empt her move, and more importantly, protect the greater interests of the nation? The anti-fascist camp's headlong dive into a trap ostensibly designed to raise questions about the direction of "new Bangladesh" exposes the fallacy of their campaign. Understanding the difference between fighting actual fascism and scoring symbolic victories in an already triumphant landscape is crucial. Moreover, a mob is a deeply unstable force that may take on a will of its own once activated. It is no surprise that the call to disrupt Hasina's speech set off a domino effect of attacks, vandalism, and arson targeting Awami League-linked houses and establishments in as many as 35 districts. Will anti-fascist mobilisers take responsibility for these attacks, or the reputational damage thus caused to Bangladesh? The UN has already warned about meeting international standards in trials for the perpetrators of July-August massacre. We cannot expect fair justice and global support for our bid while condoning extrajudicial actions against the remnants of Awami League.

The reason we focus more on the Dhanmondi incident and its aftermath is because of the insistence by some anti-fascist voices on challenging any labelling or questioning of their supporters, as if they are an organised force governed by strict discipline. They are not. The truth is, under the broad anti-fascist umbrella, there are numerous student, political and ideological banners—just as there are numerous types of mobs. A mob, however you characterise it, cannot be expected to see reason or exercise restraint. It cannot distinguish between political and criminal actions, between "reactions" and "revenges," or between legitimate targets and collateral damage.

Another danger of encouraging mobism is how easily it can morph into various expressions of fanaticism, which is perhaps what led Mahfuj Alam to directly address the Touhidi Janata. For instance, the same mobs that destroyed Mujib's murals and statues over the past months could feel emboldened to attack any structure, symbol or event that they perceive to be anti-religious. In fact, some already are. A recent video shows a man standing before the Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University, calling it a "murti" (Hindu idol) and urging its destruction. Monday's book fair assault, the disruptions of women's football matches in Joypurhat and Dinajpur, or the spate of attacks on shrines in recent months—all point to the uncontrollable effects of encouraging mobism.

As part of the Operation Devil Hunt, the authorities have so far detained nearly 3,000 individuals, many likely linked to recent incidents of chaos and aggression. But security crackdowns alone cannot prevent this trend. It demands deeper reflection. Should we continue to condone unregulated public outbursts? Should we so easily fall for "provocations?" Or can we channel our grievances into structured responses that can solidify our transition to democracy, prevent the resurgence of any form of fascism, and restore Bangladesh's global standing?

Whatever we do, the idea of a mob must be left in the past.

Badiuzzaman Bay is assistant editor at The Daily Star.​

 

[Saif]

Operation Devil Hunt: 3,924 arrested in 7 days

With the new detentions, a total of 3,924 people have been arrested in this operation in the last seven days, starting from last Saturday night to Friday afternoon, the police headquarters said this evening

en.prothomalo.com

Operation Devil Hunt: 3,924 arrested in 7 days
Staff Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 14 Feb 2025, 22: 49

Another 509 people have been arrested in the joint force’s special drive, “Operation Devil Hunt” across the country.

With the new detentions, a total of 3,924 people have been arrested in this operation in the last seven days, starting from last Saturday night to Friday afternoon, the police headquarters said this evening.


In the last 24 hours (until Friday afternoon), as many as 509 people have been arrested in the operation, and several weapons have been recovered. Those include one single-barrel gun, one one-shooter gun, one cartridge, 10 machetes, two knives, and two cleavers.

According to the police headquarters, 948 more people were arrested in the last 24 hours in various cases outside the “Operation Devil Hunt”.

Following a terrorist attack on students and the people in Gazipur, a decision was taken at a meeting of law enforcement agencies at the home ministry to launch “Operation Devil Hunt”.

Some 15-16 students were attacked at the house of former liberation war affairs minister Mozammel Haque in Gazipur on 7 February night.

Leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement said that the students went there to prevent the robbery after receiving news of it that night. At that time, they were attacked.

One of the injured in the incident died while undergoing medical treatment at a hospital.​

 

[Saif]

OPERATION DEVIL HUNT: 477 more people arrested

Law enforcement agencies and security agencies on Saturday arrested 1,347 individuals, including 477 in the ongoing Operation Devil Hunt, said a police headquarters press release.

www.newagebd.net

OPERATION DEVIL HUNT: 477 more people arrested
Staff Correspondent 16 February, 2025, 01:04

Law enforcement agencies and security agencies on Saturday arrested 1,347 individuals, including 477 in the ongoing Operation Devil Hunt, said a police headquarters press release.

They also seized firearms and ammunition, including one foreign pistol, two magazines and 20 rounds along with several sharp weapons. The statistics was for the past 24 hours ending at 8:00am Saturday.

Outside the Operation Devil Hunt, 870 arrests were made on Friday in different types of cases across the country, the release added.

Earlier on Friday, 1,457 people, including 509 in the Operation Devil Hunt, were arrested.

In the past seven days since the interim government launched Operation Devil Hunt on February 8, at least 10,759 people, mostly Awami League leaders and activists, were arrested.

On February 9, total 1,308 people were arrested, according to police officials.

On February 10, total 1,521, including 343 in the Operation Devil Hunt, were arrested. On February 11, another 1,775 people, including 607 in the Operation Devil Hunt, were arrested. On February 13, total 1,686, including 591 in the Operation Devil Hunt, were arrested.

At least 13 people, including leaders and activists of AL and its affiliated organisations, were detained on Friday night in Sylhet city in Operation Devil Hunt, United News of Bangladesh reported on Sunday quoting Sylhet Metropolitan Police assistant deputy commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam.

At least 15 members of the Student Against Discrimination were injured in a counter attack by local people over attacking the ousted AL government’s liberation war affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque on February 7 night, leading to the death of Abdul Kashem, 17, one of the injured, while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The Operation Devil Hunt was announced in the aftermath of a spate of attacks carried out on the houses of Awami League leaders, party offices, and the murals and portraits of the country’s founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and his daughter deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina since February 5 when the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum building at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka was razed to the ground.

The chaotic situation ensued when different groups on their social media platforms called on people to join the ‘Bulldozer procession’ to demolish the Dhanmondi 32 building over the speech of Sheikh Hasina, now sheltered in India following her ouster amid a mass uprising, to the country’s student community online on February 5 evening.​

 

[Saif]

389 more arrested under ‘Operation Devil Hunt’

As part of the ongoing nationwide joint forces crackdown “Operation Devil Hunt”, 389 more miscreants were arrested in the last 24 hours. The police headquarters (PHQ) in a short message service today said 1140 more were arrested across the country. Of them, 751 were arrested in various

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

389 more arrested under ‘Operation Devil Hunt’
FE Online Desk
Published :
Feb 16, 2025 19:41
Updated :
Feb 16, 2025 19:41

As part of the ongoing nationwide joint forces crackdown “Operation Devil Hunt”, 389 more miscreants were arrested in the last 24 hours.

The police headquarters (PHQ) in a short message service today said 1140 more were arrested across the country. Of them, 751 were arrested in various criminal cases along with the accused with warrants, reports BSS.

During Sunday’s operation, a locally made pipe gun and a hammer were seized.

On Saturday, 1347 individuals were arrested from different parts of the country. Of the total arrestees, 477 were nabbed under Operation Devil Hunt, while 870 were in different criminal cases along with warrants.

With the aim of bringing the anarchists and their associates under the law across the country, the ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ campaign has been launched from February 8.​

 

[Saif]

Operation Devil Hunt: 532 arrested across Bangladesh

A total of 532 people were arrested across the country as part of the ongoing "Operation Devil Hunt" in 24 hours till Wednesday afternoon, according to the police headquarters. Besides, 1,051 others were arrested in connection with various warrants and ongoing cases during the same period in count

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Operation Devil Hunt: 532 arrested across Bangladesh
FE Online Desk
Published :
Feb 19, 2025 19:29
Updated :
Feb 19, 2025 19:29

A total of 532 people were arrested across the country as part of the ongoing "Operation Devil Hunt" in 24 hours till Wednesday afternoon, according to the police headquarters.

Besides, 1,051 others were arrested in connection with various warrants and ongoing cases during the same period in countrywide drives conducted by local police, UNB reports.

During this period, the joint forces also recovered a range of weapons and materials, including one foreign-made pistol.

Launched on the night of February 9, "Operation Devil Hunt" is ostensibly aimed at curbing unrest and ensuring public safety across the country.

The operation followed an attack on students and civilians in Gazipur on the night of February 7, an area known to be a stronghold of the Awami League.​

 

[Saif]

OPERATION DEVIL HUNT: 461 more arrested across Bangladesh

At least 461 people were arrested across Bangladesh as part of the ongoing ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ in 24 hours till Friday afternoon, according to the police headquarters....

www.newagebd.net

OPERATION DEVIL HUNT: 461 more arrested across Bangladesh
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka 21 February, 2025, 23:50

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At least 461 people were arrested across Bangladesh as part of the ongoing ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ in 24 hours till Friday afternoon, according to the police headquarters.

Besides, 1,189 others were arrested in connection with various warrants and ongoing cases during the same period in countrywide drives conducted by local police.

During this period, the joint forces also recovered a range of weapons and materials, including three locally made pipe guns and one foreign-made pistol.

Launched on the night of February 9, "Operation Devil Hunt" is aimed at curbing unrest and ensuring public safety across the country.

The operation followed an attack on students and civilians in Gazipur on the night of February 7, an area known to be a stronghold of the Awami League.​

 

[Saif]

Operation Devil Hunt: 769 arrested countrywide

A total of 769 people were arrested across the country as part of the ongoing ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ in 24 hours till Saturday afternoon, according to the police headquarters. Besides, 572 others were arrested in connection with various warrants and ongoing cases during the same period

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Operation Devil Hunt: 769 arrested countrywide
UNB
Published :
Feb 22, 2025 19:26
Updated :
Feb 22, 2025 21:03

A total of 769 people were arrested across the country as part of the ongoing ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ in 24 hours till Saturday afternoon, according to the police headquarters.

Besides, 572 others were arrested in connection with various warrants and ongoing cases during the same period in countrywide drives conducted by local police.

During this period, the joint forces also recovered a range of weapons and materials, including one locally made pipe gun.

Launched on the night of February 9, ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ is aimed at curbing unrest and ensuring public safety across the country.

The operation followed an attack on students and civilians in Gazipur on the night of February 7, an area known to be a stronghold of the Awami League.​

 

[Saif]

Home adviser blames 'AL cohorts' for rising crimes

Vows to strengthen security operations to tackle deteriorating law and order situation amid calls for his resignation

www.thedailystar.net

Home adviser blames 'AL cohorts' for rising crimes
Vows to strengthen security operations to tackle deteriorating law and order situation amid calls for his resignation

File photo: UNB

Saying cohorts of the ousted Awami League are behind the rising crimes across the country, Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today vowed to make their lives difficult.

He said the government is aware of the law-and-order situation and strict instructions have been given to law enforcers to tackle it.

"If the law enforcement agencies fail to comply with my order, strict actions will be taken against them," the home boss said.

"The law and order situation has largely improved since I took charge and it will only improve. Form today you will see the improvement," he said, adding that the ongoing Devil Hunt Operation will further be strengthened against criminals.

The adviser said the ousted party members are now using the huge money they gained through corruption during their rule to create unrest in the country.

Asked about the calls for his resignation, the adviser said he is taking enough measures to control the situation. If he succeeds, the call will be rendered mute as the demand originated from the deteriorating law and order situation.

He made the comments at an emergency briefing around 3:00am. It was arranged at his residence at 151, Road-1, Baridhara DOHS.

The briefing came amid rising crimes including mugging, robbery and rape across the country.

Yesterday, many took to social media to vent out their frustrations and anger over the law enforcement failure as videos of miscreants attacking residents with guns and machetes went viral.

Meanwhile, several hundred protesters gathered at Dhaka University around 1:00am today, demanding the immediate resignation of the home adviser for inaction and failure to curb crimes.

The students said the adviser must resign by tonight.

Yesterday, students of different educational institutions in Dhaka and across the country held demonstrations, protesting the deterioration of law and order situation and the recent incidents of rape, attacks and harassment of women.

They said that the interim government had failed to restore the law and order situation after the July uprising, leading to an increase in the incidents.​

 

[Saif]

585 more arrested across the country

The joint forces arrested 585 more people across the country in the last 24 hours till yesterday afternoon as part of the "Operation Devil Hunt", according to the Police Headquarters.

www.thedailystar.net

585 more arrested across the country

Illustration: Star Digital Graphics

The joint forces arrested 585 more people across the country in the last 24 hours till yesterday afternoon as part of the "Operation Devil Hunt", according to the Police Headquarters.

With the latest arrests, the total number of people arrested in the operation since its launch on February 8 has risen to 8,664 in the past 16 days.

Additionally, 908 others, who were either accused or wanted in previous cases, were also arrested in the last 24 hours.

Law enforcers also recovered two firearms, 10 rounds of bullets and seven sharp weapons.

The government launched the operation on February 8 to restore law and order following an attack on "students and people" in Gazipur.​

 

[Saif]

618 more netted under ‘Operation Devil Hunt’

The joint forces arrested 618 more suspects linked to destabilize the country under the nationwide ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ in the last 24 hours until Friday, a police headquarters statement said. With the latest figure, a total of 12,231 suspects were taken into custody since the

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

618 more netted under ‘Operation Devil Hunt’
BSS
Published :
Feb 28, 2025 19:17
Updated :
Feb 28, 2025 19:17

The joint forces arrested 618 more suspects linked to destabilize the country under the nationwide ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ in the last 24 hours until Friday, a police headquarters statement said.

With the latest figure, a total of 12,231 suspects were taken into custody since the crackdown began on February 8 last following a terror attack on the students in Gazipur district.

On the 21th day of the crackdown, a total of 1414 persons were apprehended. Of them, 786 were netted under the ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ and 914 others for previous cases and warrants.

During the operation, the forces seized one LG, one cartridge, and several matches.​

 

[Saif]

Raids to intensify during Ramadan, ‘Devil Hunt’ name to be changed

Professional and seasonal criminals are becoming active around the month of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr. Activities of fake currency gangs, robbers, thieves and other criminals have already been seen. To tackle the situation, the law enforcement agencies have decided to strengthen drives in...

en.prothomalo.com

Raids to intensify during Ramadan, ‘Devil Hunt’ name to be changed
Arifur Rahman &
Mahmudul Hasan
Dhaka
Published: 03 Mar 2025, 18: 02

Police will increase drives as specific crimes are on the rise in the month of Ramadan File photo

Professional and seasonal criminals are becoming active around the month of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr. Activities of fake currency gangs, robbers, thieves and other criminals have already been seen.

To tackle the situation, the law enforcement agencies have decided to strengthen drives in Ramadan.

However, several sources from the Home Ministry said the name of “Operation Devil Hunt” would no longer be used.

Intelligence reports have also mentioned fear of a spike in some specific crimes during the month of Ramadan.

The government has also asked the law enforcement agencies to increase surveillance. In line with that, the law enforcers have strengthened the surveillance across the country.

A core committee meeting was held on Sunday in the meeting room of the Home Ministry at the Secretariat regarding the law and order situation. It was decided that the ongoing special operation to improve the law and order situation will be further strengthened during the month of Ramadan.

The law enforcement agencies will give utmost importance to preventing robberies and extortion on the highways and stopping robberies during deposits and withdrawals of large sums of money from banks.

Earlier, Operation Devil Hunt began across the country on 8 February. As many as 11,882 people were arrested in this joint force operation till 1 March.

The Home Ministry decided to conduct Operation Devil Hunt in the context of an anarchic situation including attacks, vandalism and other incidents in different parts of the country. During this, 15-16 students were attacked at the house of former Liberation War Minister AKM Mozammel Haque in Gazipur on the night of 7 February. One of them died. The special operation has been going on since then.

Yesterday, the core committee meeting at the Home Ministry also discussed “Operation Devil Hunt”. The meeting said that the joint force operation to control crime will continue, but the name “Operation Devil Hunt” will not be used.

The core committee meeting has asked the authorities concerned to ensure that human rights violations do not occur in the special raids.

Sources said that there are various discussions and criticisms about the name “Operation Devil Hunt”. It was discussed in yesterday’s meeting that many people, including high-ranking officials of the interim government, do not like this code name.

In such a context, the joint force’s operation to curb crimes will be further strengthened, but the name “Operation Devil Hunt” will no longer be used.

After this decision, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the police headquarters did not disclose the number of arrests made in the raids yesterday.

Earlier, the arrests in “Operation Devil Hunt” were reported separately every day since the raids began on 8 February.

Fear of rise in crimes in Ramadan

Law enforcement said economic activities increase during the month of Ramadan. Supermarkets buzz with crowds till late night. Criminals take this chance of increased activities during Ramadan.

Miscreants usually target to steal vehicles as owners or drivers stay away for a long time. Other crimes such as snatching of valuables and use of counterfeit bank notes also increase at this period of time.

For this , special instructions are always given to the law enforcement agencies about drives against counterfeit notes during Ramadan.

Police and RAB headquarters sources said that activities of “tana parties”, the gangs that snatch valuables from people, increase during Ramadan. People going to malls become targets of hijacking and robbery. Organised car theft gangs also become active during this time. These incidents occur more around iftar markets, malls, bus stands, railway stations, and launch terminals. The surveillance of law enforcement agencies has been strengthened in such crowded areas.

RAB’s legal and media wing director Lieutenant Colonel Md Munim Ferdous told Prothom Alo that some specific crimes always shot up during the month of Ramadan. Around 200 patrolling teams of RAB have been working to prevent these crimes. Moreover, RAB men in plainclothes are also working in crowded places.

Special attention to financial institutions

A survey by the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association (BSOA) has revealed that a business worth about Tk 1.7 trillion is being done ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

One of the main targets of criminal gangs active around the month of Ramadan is robbery at financial institutions. These incidents occur more during the transportation of money and money transactions.

Police headquarters sources said that they have already called upon people to seek police cooperation in cases of transactions of large sums of money. Apart from this, the police have been instructed to conduct special surveillance on financial institutions and all types of businesses.

In this regard, Assistant Inspector General (Media and Public Relations) of the police headquarters, Enamul Haque Sagar, told Prothom Alo that special operations are underway across the country to curb crimes.

Additional security measures have been taken to combat crime around Ramadan. More than 500 police patrol teams are going out every day in the capital alone. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is providing “money escort” services in the capital for cash withdrawal and transportation.

Police activities in the first day of Ramadan

DMP sources said a total of 575 patrol teams of the police were active in the first 24 hours of Ramadan in Dhaka while 65 checkposts were set up. A total of 167 were arrested for various crimes in Dhaka that time. The DMP said six of the arrested were robbers, 18 professional hijackers, four extortionists and 10 thieves.

DMP deputy commissioner (media and public relations) M Talebur Rahman said integrated checkposts and patrols have been increased to keep the law and order situation under control.

According to DMP’s crime and control centre sources, alongside the DMP patrolling teams, special units of the police have been working in different crime-prone areas of the city.

In the last 24 hours, 14 patrol teams of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC), 12 teams of Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) and 10 of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) jointly worked with DMP.

Moreover, police’s specialised unit Armed Police Battalion (APBn) conducted 20 checkpoints in the city. These activities will continue throughout the month.

Cluster of decisions in core committee meeting

The Home Ministry in a press release said the core committee meeting took a cluster of decisions to improve the law and order situation of the country.

The meeting decided that chiefs of different units of the police, deputy police commissioners, Army’s brigade chiefs and other senior officials would brief the media about every incident.

It was also decided that the government will take different steps to spread the truth by debunking fake news, misinformation and disinformation campaigns.

The law enforcers have been asked to update the list of criminals in police stations and take quick steps against them. Steps have been taken to procure motorbikes for DMP members, BGB, Ansar and Coast Guard members so that patrolling can be intensified. Coordinated drives are being launched in crime-prone areas.

The meeting also discussed that case monitoring committees have been set up in districts and cities to identify real criminals by reviewing cases. The meeting also decided that responsible persons of the government and top officials of law enforcers will conduct sudden visits in the field levels to monitor the situation.

The cases filed by the family members of martyrs of July mass uprising victims are being closely monitored to ensure trial of those involved with the killing.

Police checkpots and the number of patrol teams have been increased in important spots. The army, different units of police and the BGB are conducting joint drives in specific areas. Alongside regular patrolling in the city streets, members of the Navy and Coast Guard have been deployed for additional patrolling.

Patrols of law enforcers have also been increased in Dhaka city’s adjacent areas such as Tongi, Bosila, Keraniganj and Munshiganj.​