40 AL Leaders & Activists Arrested in Gazipur

Following the attack on students of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at the residence of former Liberation War Affairs Minister A.K.M. Mozammel Haque in Gazipur, authorities have launched a large-scale crackdown. 

Under the directive of the Ministry of Home Affairs, "Operation Devil Hunt" is underway across Gazipur and other parts of the country. 

As part of this special joint-force operation, 40 Awami League leaders and activists have been arrested in Gazipur. The Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) confirmed the arrests on Sunday, February 9.

Widespread Crackdown Begins
On Saturday, February 8, a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs, involving law enforcement agencies, decided to launch a coordinated operation. That very night, the joint forces initiated a large-scale raid in Gazipur, intensifying patrols at key locations. Checkposts were set up in front of the District Commissioner's office, where army personnel stopped and searched motorcycles and other vehicles.

According to Gazipur Police Superintendent Chowdhury Jaber Sadeq, the operation has already resulted in the arrest of 40 Awami League activists.

Background: Attack on Students in Gazipur
On Friday, February 7, around 9 PM, in the Dhirasram Dakshinkhan area of Gazipur, local residents allegedly attacked students of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. The attack reportedly occurred after allegations surfaced that the residence of former minister and district Awami League president Mozammel Haque had been vandalized. At least 15 students were injured in the attack.

According to leaders of the student movement, most of the injured were admitted to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital in Gazipur. Around 3 AM on Saturday, two central leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah, visited the hospital to check on the injured students.

Conflicting Claims Over the Incident
The student movement leaders stated that they had received reports of looting and attacks at the former minister’s residence in Dhirasram. Upon hearing this, a group of 15 to 20 students rushed to the scene to prevent the alleged looting. When they arrived, they found the house being ransacked. However, soon after, local residents mobilized in large numbers through microphone announcements and started attacking the students. Some were taken to the roof of the house and beaten, while others were attacked when they arrived later.

According to Abdullah Al Mahim, the Gazipur district coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, the students were attempting to stop the looting at the former minister’s residence when members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Jubo League, and local residents attacked them after announcing it over loudspeakers.