Bangladesh’s ‘devil hunt’ to tackle violence, 1,300 arrested in sweeping crackdown

In a sweeping crackdown to tackle a fresh wave of violence across the country, targeting properties belonging to deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s family and leaders of her party Awami League, Bangladesh’s security forces arrested over 1,300 individuals under a nationwide joint forces operation dubbed ‘Operation Devil Hunt’.

The interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, launched the operation following violent clashes that injured student activists during an attack on the residence of an Awami League leader in Gazipur on the outskirts of Dhaka. The violence later spread to other parts of the country, with mobs targeting symbols of the Awami League.

The joint forces, comprising army troops, police, and specialised units, have so far arrested 1,308 people in connection with the violence and unrest that have gripped the country for the past four days. The interim government has vowed to uproot “all devils” attempting to create instability as it completes six months in power.

Sheikh Hasina was ousted as Prime Minister in August 2024 at the peak of violent protests, which initially began as a student-led anti-quota movement. The Yunus government took charge of the country afterward, leading to continued violence between members of Hasina’s Awami League and supporters of Yunus’s government, largely from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and similar outfits.

On Wednesday, thousands of protesters set fire to the residence of Bangladesh’s founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who spearheaded the country’s autonomy movement and independence struggle from this very house. This historic building was where Rahman proclaimed Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971.

“The operation will target those who are desperate to destabilise the country… it will continue until all devils are rooted out,” Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said.

Hasina and most of her senior colleagues in the government have been charged with numerous offences, including crimes against humanity, for their brutal crackdown on the July mass uprising that eventually toppled her government on August 5, 2024. The 77-year-old former Prime Minister has been living in India since then.

Amid allegations that security forces are specifically targeting Hasina’s supporters, Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury claimed that the actions are directed only against those seeking to destabilise the country.

“What does ‘devil’ mean? It refers to evil forces. This operation is aimed at those who try to destabilise the country, break the law, engage in criminal activities, and commit acts of terrorism,” he said.

To monitor Operation Devil Hunt and oversee its execution, a command centre has been established and has begun functioning, the Chief Adviser’s office said.

In a statement on Friday, Chief Adviser Yunus called for “complete law and order” and an end to attacks on the properties of the deposed premier’s family and leaders of her “fascist” Awami League.

Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s BNP urged the interim government to curb “mob culture” and restore law and order, warning that failure to do so could lead to the reemergence of “fascist” forces. The party announced a series of nationwide rallies starting February 11, demanding effective measures to address the deteriorating law and order situation and push for an electoral roadmap.