Gazipur: The joint forces comprising army, police, and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested 65 leaders and activists of the Awami League from Gazipur district and metropolitan areas during the ongoing ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ till this morning.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the joint forces arrested 40 leaders and activists of the Awami League from different areas under five Thanas of the district and 25 others from seven police stations under Gazipur metropolitan areas from last midnight until this morning.
Dr. Chowdhury Md Jaber Sadek, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gazipur district, stated that they arrested 40 people from Sripur, Kaliganj, Kapasia, Kaliakoir, and Joydevpur Thanas of the district during the operation. He confirmed that all the arrested individuals are leaders and activists of the Awami League and its front organizations in these five upazilas.
Additionally, sources in the Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) reported that the joint forces arrested three people each from Tongi West, Tongi East, and Pubail Thanas, five from Gachha, eight from Basan, two from Konabari, and four from Kashimpur police stations during the operation.
Saiful Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kashimpur Police station, mentioned that of the arrestees, four persons were identified by local people as Awami League activists. Among them were Abdur Rouf Arif, convener of Awami Swechchhasebak League, Dhaka district north unit, Md Shahidullah and Momin Bhandari, both vice presidents of AL ward number-1 of Gazipur metropolitan city, and Tanjid Khan, joint convener of the recently banned Chhatra League ward number-1.
The government has initiated this special drive named ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ starting from Saturday to apprehend terrorists and recover illegal arms across the country.