United News of Bangladesh

One hundred people including former MP Chayan Islam and Gazipur Metropolitan Jubo Mohila League general secretary Anowara Sarkar Anu have been arrested in Gazipur on the second day of the ongoing drive 'Operation Devil Hunt.' On the first day, 80 people, including leaders of Awami League and its affiliated organisations, were arrested from different parts of Gazipur district and metropolitan areas. According to police, Sunday night's arrests included 21 people from five police stations in Gazipur district and 79 from the metropolitan area. Superintendent of Police Dr. Chowdhury Md. Zaber Sadeque  said Chayan Islam, former MP of Sirajganj-6 constituency, was detained while in hiding in Gazipur’s Sreepur upazila. As there are no cases against him in Gazipur he will be sent to Sirajganj for legal proceedings. His wife, who was present at the time of his arrest, was also taken to the police station and will be sent to Sirajganj. 1,308 arrested during 'Operation Devil Hunt': Police Headquarters The government announced the operation following an attack on some activists of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at the residence of former minister AKM Mozammel Haque in Dakshinkhan that left 18 people injured. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagarik Committee staged demonstrations demanding the arrest of those involved in the attack.

Former Awami League MP  from Sirajganj-6 (Shahjadpur) constituency Chayan Islam has been arrested from a residence of his relative in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur, said police on Monday morning. Chayan’s wife and an associate were also detained from the house and taken to the police station.  Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sreepur police station Joynal Abedin Mondol said being tipped-off they came to know that the former MP was hiding in the house in Tepir Bagan village. Graft case: Ex-AL MP gets 4 years jail in Jashore Police arrested him from the house with the help of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and BNP activists around 12:30am on Sunday, he said.   The former lawmaker had been hiding in the house for around the past two months, the OC said, adding that they took his wife and an associate under their custody.

Members of the Joint Forces arrested 1,308 people under "Operation Devil Hunt" until Sunday afternoon, according to sources at the police headquarters. They were arrested from different parts of the country, said an official wishing anonymity, as they were not authorised to inform the media. DMP arrests 3 with anti-govt leaflets from Dhaka’s Arambagh The government launched the nationwide security operation on Saturday night, ostensibly aiming to curb unrest and ensure public safety. The context in which it came about, however, suggested a particular focus on supporters and activists of the Awami League, including its banned student front, the Chhatra League. The operation was devised following Friday night's attack on students and civilians in Gazipur, a traditional den of the Awami League. Mob dismantles offices of AL and ally JSD in Bogura Meanwhile, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said today that the countrywide crackdown ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ would continue until the devils are eradicated. “The operation will target those who are desperate to destabilise the country,” he warned.  

The Police Headquarters on Sunday urged people to provide still images and video footage of violent incidents against students and the general public that occurred during the July-August mass movement by uploading them on a government website. In a statement, the Police Headquarters announced a call for individuals to contribute digital evidence of the attacks, killings, and shootings that took place between 1 July and 5 August 2024. ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ to continue until devils are finished: Home Adviser People are encouraged to upload still images and video footage captured on personal mobile phones or cameras to the website (andolonerchobi.police.gov.bd). Each uploader can submit a maximum of one still image or video per hour, and up to five files per day using their mobile number. Before uploading, an OTP will be sent to the uploader's mobile number for verification. July Uprising victims urged to submit medical bills for compensation The uploaded files will be accessible by logging in with the uploader's mobile number. “Images and video footage can be uploaded to the said website from 11 February to 25 February 2025," said the statement.

Three allegedly active members of a notorious gang were arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) from Jatrabari early Sunday. The arrestees were identified as Md Sajjad Hossain alias Saiful (30), Md Rabbi Hossain alias Bocha Rabbi (27), and Md Ratul (22). Based on secret information, a team of DB (Wari Division) conducted a drive at Shanirakhra area of Jatrabari at around 4:50 am and arrested the trio, said Assistant Commissioner (Media) of the DMP Jahangir Kabir. Operation Devil Hunt: 4 banned BCL activists arrested in Khagrachhari According to DB's Wari Division sources, a passenger arriving from Chattogram by bus was attacked by a group of criminals with knives, machetes, and other sharp weapons near Kutubkhali Dagukhan Government Primary School in South Jatrabari. The criminals snatched cash, a mobile phone, and other valuables from the victim. A video of the incident was widely shared on social media. Following the alarming incident, the DB launched an intensive investigation, working alongside local police. Scrutinizing CCTV footage from nearby areas, as well as intelligence and technological resources, they identified the suspects involved. This led to the early morning arrests of Sajjad, Rabbi, and Ratul with knives and machetes in hand. During primary interrogations, it was learnt that the arrestees were active members of an organized robbery and snatching gang, which had been targeting pedestrians in Jatrabari, Shonir Akhra, and other parts of the capital. DMP arrests 3 with anti-govt leaflets from Dhaka’s Arambagh The criminal records indicate that the suspects have multiple cases of snatching and preparation for robbery lodged against them at Kadamtali and Jatrabari police stations. Legal proceedings against the arrested individuals are underway, and efforts to capture their accomplices who remain at large continue.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) raided Bangladesh Bank but found no lockers linked to 25 suspected officials, including former governor Abdur Rouf Talukder. Following the search of registered records on Sunday, ACC Director Kazi Sayemuzzaman said that their efforts yielded no results. “The individuals under suspicion have no lockers registered in their names. There are allegations against many others, and further raids will be conducted with court approval,” he told reporters on Sunday. ACC team at Bangladesh Bank to open officials’ secret lockers ACC officials suspect corruption among both current and former central bank staff across its Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal offices. So far, 272 safe deposit lockers have been identified. An eight-member ACC team, led by Sayemuzzaman, began the search at 12:30 pm today. ACC Director General Akhter Hossain said, “The team continues its operation, suspecting the presence of undisclosed wealth, foreign currency and gold in these lockers.” Over 300 secret lockers found in Bangladesh Bank; raids loom “There are approximately 300 lockers, and if necessary, the raid will extend for another day or two as per court directives,” he added.  

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed four cases against Sheikh Abdul Hai Bachchu, former chairman of Basic Bank Limited and his family members on charges of acquiring illegal wealth worth TK 248 crore and laundering money. ACC Director General Md. Akhter Hossain disclosed the matter at a media briefing on Sunday On June 12, 2023, the ACC approved charge sheets against 147 people including  Abdul Hai Bachchu.  Out of the total 59 charge sheets by the agency, Abdul Hai Bachchu and Company Secretary Shah Alam Bhuiyan were included as new accused in the investigation of 58 cases. ACC team at Bangladesh Bank to open officials’ secret lockers However, Bachchu was not made an accused in any of the cases filed in 2015 Bachchu was made an accused in a charge sheet after 8 long years of filing the case. Besides, a chargesheet was submitted against six people, including Bachchu, his wife, children and brother, and Hotel Le Meridien owner Amin Ahmed in April last year, for allegedly trying to conceal information of around Tk 95 crore by showing the purchase of 30.25 kathas of land in the capital's Cantonment Bazaar in April last year and evading revenue of TK 8.5 crore.

Police have arrested four activists of banned Bangladesh Chhatra League in Khagrachhari’s Guimara upazila amid the countrywide ‘Operation Devil Hunt’. The arrestees are Sohag Mia, president of the BCL ward No-2 unit of Hafchhara union, activists-Md Selim, Md Abdur Rahim and Md Azizul, residents of the Boropilak area of the union. Operation Devil Hunt: 40 arrested in Gazipur      Guimara police station’s Officer-in-Charge Md Enamul Haque Chowdhury said they arrested the four members of the banned BCL on Saturday night . The arrestee will be produced before a court, added the OC.

Those who are trying to destabilise the country will be arrested under the ‘Operation Devil Hunt’, said Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Gani.  “There have been attempts to create instability in the country. This operation will be conducted to restore normalcy,” he said while addressing a press briefing at his ministry on Sunday. Further details about the operation were not immediately disclosed. Operation Devil Hunt: 40 arrested in Gazipur The government announced to launch ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ after an attack on students at the residence of former minister AKM Mozammel Haque in Gazipur on Friday night. The joint forces have so far arrested 40 people, suspected to be members of the Awami League, said Gazipur Superintendent of Police Dr Chowdhury Jaber Sadek.

Joint forces have arrested 40 people, suspected to be supporters of Awami League and its associate bodies, from Gazipur since Saturday night to Sunday morning, said police. Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gazipur  Chowdhury Jaber Sadek said that the 40 people were rounded up from parts of the district after conducting the ‘Operation Devil Hunt’. The government launched the nationwide operation following a violent attack on students and civilians in the district on Friday night. "Operation Devil Hunt" launched nationwide following Gazipur attack Responding to it, a high-level meeting was held on Saturday at the Ministry of Home Affairs and decided to conduct the operation to maintain law and order, and bring the perpetrators to justice.   On Friday night, at least 14 individuals, all belonging to the mobs out to vandalise and destroy all signs of the Awami League, were injured as they came under attack in Gazipur city's Dakshinkhan area. This happened during an attack on the residence of former Liberation War Affairs Minister Mozammel Haque. They were immediately taken to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital for treatment.  Later, some of them were referred to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.