A much-hyped operation that drew public attention for its name and controversies over rights violations ended quietly though no one could officially say when or how it concluded.
“Operation Devil Hunt,” a joint drive by regular law enforcement agencies and the armed forces, began on February 8 in response to escalating crime across the country, including mob violence, extortion, and organised criminal activities after the fall of Sheikh Hasina following a mass uprising.
Since then, police headquarters had been announcing the number of people detained in the joint drive every day, and by March 1, the tally had risen to 11,292.
This figure suggests an average of about 565 arrests per day.
However, the provision of these daily figures abruptly stopped on March 2, although police headquarters continued to report arrests in regular cases, including those with outstanding warrants and other allegations.
This has raised questions: Has the operation officially ended?
When contacted, AIG (Media) Enamul Haque Sagar at police headquarters told Times of Bangladesh that “Operation Devil Hunt” had been initiated under directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“The ministry knows the current status of the operation,” he said, adding that police have been regularly providing data on arrests related to warrants, narcotics, smuggling, and other law-and-order issues.
According to Home Ministry, Operation Devil Hunt is no longer ongoing.
However, the ministry spokesperson did not specify when exactly the operation was discontinued.
Faisal Hasan, director of Public Relations at the Ministry of Home Affairs, told the TIMES that there is currently no special operation by the name of “Devil Hunt.”
“That is why neither the ministry nor police headquarters is providing any information related to it,” he explained.
He hastened to add that law enforcement agencies are still conducting operations to nab criminals.
Multiple attempts were made to contact Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, but no response was received. Messages sent via WhatsApp went unanswered.
However, during a media briefing after a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order at his ministry on Monday, the adviser stated that law-enforcement agencies are taking immediate action against criminal activities as they take place.
He praised law enforcement’s role in handling recent incidents in Muradnagar, Cumilla and Patuakhali, noting that the authorities acted swiftly and successfully arrested the perpetrators.
A day after Devil Hunt had begun, Jahangir Chowdhury said the countrywide crackdown would continue until the “devils” were eliminated.
“The operation will target those who are desperate to destabilise the country,” he warned.
“Operation Devil Hunt” nevertheless came under fire from certain political forces apart from the Awami League, whose activities are now banned, and its allies.
Jatiya Party (E) described the campaign as “a tool of political suppression,” while some local BNP leaders demanded that it be halted.