In Bangladesh, “Operation Devil Hunt” began on Saturday, February 8. As of Sunday, February 9, at noon, a total of 1,308 Awami League leaders and activists have been arrested across the country during various police operations, including “Operation Devil Hunt.” However, the police have not officially identified them as Awami League members. Experts, however, claim that all those arrested are indeed leaders and activists of the Awami League.
On Sunday evening (February 9), AIG (Media & PR) of Bangladesh Police, Inamul Haque Sagar, confirmed this information.
He stated that from last night until today at noon, a total of 1,308 people have been arrested. These arrests were made during Operation Devil Hunt and other police operations. Among them, metropolitan police forces across the country arrested 274 individuals, while range police forces arrested 1,034 individuals.
It is important to note that in English, “devil” means “Satan”, and “hunt” means “pursuit” or “chase”. Thus, “Devil Hunt” can be translated as “Satan Hunt”. Authorities have stated that “Devil Hunt” refers to the operation targeting anti-national groups, terrorists, and criminals.
Operation Devil Hunt is a special operation launched nationwide on February 8. The operation began following an incident on February 7, when alleged anti-discrimination student activists attempted to vandalize and set fire to the house of AKM Mozammel Haque, a former minister of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs under the Awami League government, in Gazipur. Locals mistook the students for robbers and attacked them. The Bangladesh government has taken action against those responsible for the arson and vandalism; however, cases have been filed against those who tried to protect the minister’s house from being set on fire and vandalized.
Reports suggest that, similar to Gazipur, homes of Awami League leaders and activists are being demolished with bulldozers across the country. In areas where bulldozers cannot be used, protesters allegedly linked to Jamaat-Shibir and anti-discrimination student movements are reportedly engaging in robbery, looting, and arson attacks.
Following the incident, a high-level meeting was held between the Ministry of Home Affairs, law enforcement agencies, and other security officials to strengthen national security measures. However, reports indicate that only innocent Awami League leaders and activists are being arrested during these operations.