Bangladesh Police Detain 663 in 24 Hours Under ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ Phase 2

Overview

• Assistant Inspector-General AHM Shahadat Hossain said nine firearms were recovered as 663 people were taken into custody in the latest 24-hour period.
• Police reported searching 26,881 motorcycles and 26,573 vehicles nationwide and seizing 342 illegal motorcycles, according to Dhaka Tribune.
• Authorities said at least 4,232 people were arrested in the previous week under the expanded Phase-2 operation.
• The interim government rolled out Phase-2 nationwide on December 13 to prevent subversive activities, a day after the shooting of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi.
• Prothom Alo, citing the Mandhaka Sanskriti Foundation, reported 11,313 arrests during the February phase and said many detainees were linked to the former Awami League, which calls the campaign a political vendetta.