Operation Devil Hunt: Over 1300 arrested as Bangladesh government launches sweeping crackdown

According to reports, the operation named 'Operation Devil Hunt' was launched after violent clashes injured student activists during an attack on the residence of an Awami League leader in Gazipur last week.

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The violence later spread to different parts of the country.

The operation will continue until all the "devils are rooted out", Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.

When asked about the objective of the operation, Jahangir said, "What does 'devil' mean? It refers to evil forces. The operation will target those who attempt to destabilise the country, break the law, and engage in criminal activities."

Speaking on the operation, Nasimul Ghani, senior secretary at the home ministry, told the newspaper, "This is a police-led operation, with the army and other forces providing assistance."

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"They [the joint forces] will have the same authority as the police and magistrates within the legal framework. The operation began yesterday [Saturday] and will continue for as long as necessary," he said.

What happened last year?

Former PM Sheikh Hasina was ousted from Bangladesh amid severe protests against her regime over a job quota row.

Following the toppling of her Awami League-led government, Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus returned to Bangladesh and took charge of an interim government.

Since Hasina's ouster, Bangladesh has witnessed continuous attacks on Hindu community members and clashes between Awami League and Yunus supporters.

Bangabandhu's residence set on fire

Thousands of protesters set the family residence of Bangladesh's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on fire, triggering tension in the country last week.

Hasina and several members of her former government are facing numerous charges for offences, including crime against humanity, for launching a crackdown on protesters during the July-August uprising.