OPERATION DEVIL HUNT PHASE-22,517 arrested in three days

At least 2,517 people were arrested and six weapons recovered across the country in the first three days of “Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2”, according to Police Headquarters.

The operation was launched to recover illegal arms, maintain law and order and suppress what authorities described as “fascist elements”.

According to Police Headquarters, the operation began on Saturday evening and continued through Sunday. The decision to launch the drive was taken at a law and order core committee meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday, following the shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi.

The meeting resolved to intensify efforts to recover illegal arms, ensure a peaceful environment ahead of the national election and prevent any attempt to disrupt the polls.

Speaking at the core committee meeting at the Secretariat on Saturday, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, “To further strengthen and accelerate these efforts and to suppress fascist terrorists, the core committee has decided to immediately launch Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2.”

Accordingly, various police units, alongside the Bangladesh Army, launched the special operation.

Police said that during the three-day drive, one foreign-made pistol, a machete, a sword, a knife and a stun gun were recovered.

Police Headquarters spokesperson AHM Shahadat Hossain told reporters on Monday that the nationwide joint forces operation would continue until further instructions were issued.

Operation Devil Hunt was first launched nationwide on February 8 following a violent attack on students and members of the public in Gazipur. The operation was initiated after a coordination meeting of law enforcement agencies at the Ministry of Home Affairs to restore law and order and bring those responsible to justice.