Bangladesh’s interim government has launched Operation Devil Hunt, a nationwide security operation, after violent protests erupted across the country, including an attack on the home of former minister AKM Mozammel Haque in Gazipur. The crackdown, involving the army and law enforcement agencies, was initiated after the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement gave a 24-hour ultimatum demanding action against those who assaulted their activists during the incident.
Security Operation in Response to Nationwide Unrest
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus ordered the security clampdown on Saturday as protests escalated. The Home Ministry confirmed that Operation Devil Hunt began in Gazipur and will expand nationwide to restore public order. Further details will be announced on Sunday.
According to reports, the violence on Wednesday night was triggered by a live online address by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Mobs vandalized properties of Awami League supporters and targeted businesses in Dhaka and other cities. Some media sources reported around 70 attacks in at least 35 districts.
One of the most alarming incidents involved the torching of the historic 32 Dhanmondi residence of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, where he had proclaimed independence from Pakistan in 1971. Security forces reportedly failed to prevent the attack, with witnesses claiming police stood by as protesters booed army personnel who briefly arrived but left without intervention.
Clashes at Ex-Minister’s Home
The attack on Haque’s residence in Gazipur saw students from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement clashing with local Awami League supporters. The students claim they arrived to stop looting but were assaulted by unidentified miscreants. The police intervened and rescued them, with 15 injured students hospitalized, some later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for critical injuries.
Gazipur police chief Arifur Rahman was suspended for negligence, and a manhunt has been launched to track down those who attacked the students, according to the Daily Star.
Political Fallout and Rising Tensions
The recent violence has reignited political tensions in Bangladesh, which has been in turmoil since the student-led uprising six months ago toppled Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year Awami League regime. Hasina, now 77, has been living in India since August 5, after fleeing Bangladesh amid mass protests.
The Jatiya Nagorik Committee, believed to be evolving into a political party, also demanded action against what they call “Awami League cohorts” still within the current administration.
Interim Government and BNP’s Reaction
In response, Interim Chief Adviser Yunus condemned the violence and called for a restoration of law and order, warning against attacks on Hasina’s family and her party members. Meanwhile, Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) urged the government to curb “mob culture” and prevent the return of authoritarian rule.
Sources By Agencies
