A Respond to Unrest Amidst Rising Tensions: Bangladesh's Crackdown on Ex-Regime Loyalists 

In response to an increase in violence, the government of Bangladesh has implemented a severe assault on individuals associated with the ousted regime of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The disturbance, which has been ongoing for several months, experienced a significant increase in intensity subsequent to the student-led revolution in August 2024. Protests ensued on February 7, 2025, following the alleged assault on student demonstrators by gangs affiliated with Hasina's regime, which resulted in the injuries of numerous individuals. The interim government has designated this violent act as the commencement of "Operation Devil Hunt," a comprehensive security operation that is designed to dismantle the remaining power structures associated with the former administration.

The assault on students by the protest group Students Against Discrimination, which has been instrumental in the overthrow of Hasina's leadership, served as the immediate catalyst for this operation. The assault took place in the aftermath of a Facebook broadcast by Hasina, who, while in exile in neighboring India, refused to comply with an arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity. Buildings associated with the Hasina family, including the former residence and museum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's first president and Hasina's father, were destroyed as a result of the violence that sparked protests throughout Dhaka.

The unrest is accompanied by statistics that indicate a nation in a state of turmoil. Over the past six months, there have been over 100 reported incidents of property damage, with demonstrators employing excavators and other heavy machinery to target buildings associated with the Hasina regime. The escalation of tensions in the aftermath of Hasina's ouster in August 2024 has been a component of a broader pattern. The Ministry of Interior's most recent data indicates that more than 200 individuals have been apprehended in connection with the violence, and hundreds more have been injured in the ongoing protests and skirmishes.

The interim government's director of the interior ministry, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, made a commitment to eliminate the supporters of the former regime. "Operation Devil Hunt will persist until the devils are eradicated," he declared, emphasizing the gravity of the assault. The interim government, which is headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, is exemplified by Chowdhury's words. Yunus issued a public statement in which he emphasized the significance of adhering to the rule of law and urged for composure. "What differentiates the new Bangladesh from the old one under the fascist regime is our unwavering commitment to human rights and civil liberties," according to him.

Nevertheless, the government's response has been met with criticism from a variety of sources. Although the interim leadership asserts that it is striving to establish a more democratic and transparent government, human rights organizations have expressed apprehension regarding the suppression of dissent. Claims that the crackdown is merely an attempt to consolidate power under the guise of law and order have been exacerbated by the violence against demonstrators and the mass arrests.

The international community is intently monitoring the conflict as it continues to develop. The political future of Bangladesh is uncertain, as the interim government is under increasing pressure to restore stability while simultaneously balancing the competing demands of justice, human rights, and national unity. The trajectory of the country's post-Hasina political landscape will likely be significantly influenced by the outcome of "Operation Devil Hunt."