Amid ongoing political instability in Bangladesh, the interim government has adopted a tough stance on law and order. The recently launched Operation Devil Hunt-2 has triggered widespread unrest across the country. In the past 24 hours alone, 663 people have been arrested in a joint operation by the police and the army, intensifying the war of words between the ruling establishment and the opposition.
Operation Devil Hunt-2: What exactly is this campaign?
The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has launched the second phase of this operation to recover illegal weapons and crack down on what it describes as “fascist elements.” According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the primary objective of this campaign is to ensure a peaceful environment in the country ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 2026.
As per data released by Police Headquarters, the last 24 hours of action not only saw a large number of arrests but also significant seizures:
- Total arrests: 663 people taken into custody within 24 hours.
- Vehicle checks: Intensive searches of 26,881 motorcycles and 26,573 other vehicles.
- Seizures: 342 illegal motorcycles and 9 lethal weapons recovered.
Controversy sparked by a shooting: The December 13 incident
The sudden escalation of this operation is being linked to an incident on December 13, 2025. In Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area, unidentified attackers opened fire on Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha and a potential electoral candidate. The incident put security agencies on high alert.
Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has clarified that Operation Devil Hunt-2 is aimed at criminals who are attempting to disrupt the electoral process. The government argues that this step was necessary to curb rising incidents of robbery and narcotics trafficking in the country.
Rising arrest numbers: Over 18,000 detained so far
The campaign is being carried out in two phases and spans a massive scale. Experts believe this is one of the largest security operations in Bangladesh’s history.
- Phase 1: The first phase, launched in February 2025, saw 11,313 people arrested.
- Phase 2: The second phase, which began in December, has already led to 4,232 arrests within a week.
- Combined data: More than 18,000 people have been detained so far under various charges.
Awami League’s allegations: “Murder of democracy”
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League, has strongly condemned the operation. The party alleges that under the name of ‘Devil Hunt,’ opposition workers are being deliberately targeted. Awami League spokespersons claim that most of those arrested are local representatives or party supporters.
Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has raised the issue on social media, calling it an international conspiracy. He warned that if the suppression of opposition workers does not stop, the Awami League may completely boycott the upcoming elections—something that could pose a serious challenge to Bangladesh’s democratic framework.
Concerns of human rights groups and international reaction
Local human rights groups such as ‘Prothom Alo’ and several international organizations have questioned the process behind these arrests. Professors from Dhaka University believe that even naming an operation ‘Devil’ reflects a divisive mindset.
“When a government portrays political opponents as ‘devils,’ questions about the impartiality of the law are inevitable.” – Human rights expert.
According to reports by human rights organizations, police raids in rural areas have created an atmosphere of fear among ordinary citizens. The reports also claim that in several cases, arrests are being made without warrants, which goes against the standards of United Nations Human Rights.
For more updates, you can visit the official Government Portal of Bangladesh.
(Information based on reports)
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Utkarsh works as a Sub-Editor at 1Tak News. Technology and gadgets are his main beats, and he also tracks automobiles. A graduate of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, he began his journalism career in 2023 and has built experience across digital media platforms like 1Tak. Besides technology, he also has considerable experience covering national affairs, politics, research, and international news.
