Operation Devil Hunt or Operation Witch Hunt?

Writer Sayed Abedin is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and a Barrister
 
History has a way of repeating itself, especially when tyrants attempt to suppress the will of the people under the guise of law and order. In 1971, the Pakistani Army launched Operation Searchlight, a brutal crackdown aimed at silencing the legitimate demands of the Bengali people. The operation led to mass atrocities, igniting a national resistance that culminated in the birth of Bangladesh. Today, under the illegitimate rule of Dr. Yunus, we see the eerie echoes of history in what is cynically termed "Operation Devil Hunt"—a so-called security operation that is, in reality, a grand cover-up to shield criminals while vilifying their victims.
 
The Real Devils Remain Unchecked
What sparked this so-called operation? The extremist Islamist group known as Student Shomonnoyok—comprising radical elements from internationally banned terrorist organizations like ISIS, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and their parent organization, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami—brazenly orchestrated a violent attack on the home of an Awami League leader and Minister in Gazipur. This was not a hidden plot; it was declared publicly before execution. Any responsible government would have moved swiftly to protect its citizens and their properties. Instead, the unconstitutional administration of Dr. Yunus turned a blind eye to this terrorist attack and instead chose to launch a crackdown on those who dared to defend themselves.
 
The Smokescreen of "Law Enforcement"
Dr. Yunus's regime, rather than bringing these violent extremists to justice, has embarked on a mission to persecute the very people who have suffered at their hands. Thousands of homes have been attacked and vandalized since the unlawful takeover of power on August 5, 2024. Thousands of Awami League members and supporters have been murdered in cold blood. Hundreds of police officers have been brutally killed, with over 450 police stations torched to the ground. More than 2,000 attacks have been recorded against minorities, while the Bangabandhu Museum, a symbol of the nation's identity, was desecrated in broad daylight—an act witnessed by the entire world. And yet, where was Dr. Yunus’s government? Nowhere to be found.
 
A Government teamed up with Terrorists
By choosing to launch this so-called "Operation Devil Hunt," the illegitimate regime has only exposed its true allegiance. Its silence in the face of mass atrocities over the past six months stands in stark contrast to its sudden urgency to suppress those who protest against tyranny. It is as if they have given Student Shomonnoyok, and their extremist allies a free pass to commit crimes with impunity. In fact, it is worse than that—Dr. Yunus's government has officially granted them indemnity for all crimes committed until August 8, 2024, effectively licensing them to kill, burn, and destroy without fear of prosecution.
 
A License to Kill, A License to Rule?
The hypocrisy of this operation is staggering. Those who once chanted slogans of equality and justice in July 2024 have now revealed their true colors, showing themselves to be nothing more than the pawns of extremist forces. Many students who were misled into supporting Student Shomonnoyok now realize they have been deceived. Meanwhile, the Yunus administration treats the people as fools, believing they will not see through the deception. But the people of Bangladesh are not blind. They now understand who the real devils are.
 
A Nation on the Brink of Civil War
The silence of the armed forces in the face of these atrocities raises troubling questions. Hundreds of police officers have been slain, and the morale of the force is shattered, yet the government denies these events even took place. What justification does the army have for standing idly by while the country plunges into chaos? Their inaction in the face of such widespread carnage could lead international human rights organizations and global powers to intervene. The world is watching, and history will judge those who enable tyranny through their silence.
 
A Final Warning
If Dr. Yunus and his allies believe they can subdue the people of Bangladesh indefinitely, they are gravely mistaken. The people fought back in 1971, and they will fight back again. Oppression breeds resistance, and the path this government has chosen will inevitably lead to a reckoning. Bangladeshis now face a critical choice: to submit to dictatorship and radical Islamist rule or to rise, as they did before, to reclaim the values of democracy, secularism, nationalism, and justice for which three million martyrs sacrificed their lives. The writing is on the wall—Operation Devil Hunt is nothing more than an Operation Witch Hunt, and the people will not stand for it much longer.