No ‍‍`Devil‍‍` should escape: Home Affairs Adviser

Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Home Affairs Advisor to the interim government, has called for stronger measures to ensure that lawbreakers are swiftly brought to justice. 

Speaking at a workshop on Tuesday, February 11, at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh, Dhaka, he urged authorities to stay vigilant in cracking down on criminals and prevent any "devils" from slipping away.

The event, focused on law enforcement in the current climate, stressed the importance of human rights and environmental issues alongside security. 

Chowdhury referenced the governments recently launched nationwide ‍‍`Operation Devil Hunt‍‍`, designed to catch those involved in creating unrest and disorder. 

He emphasized that one of the government‍‍`s key goals is to guarantee the safety of citizens and bring criminals to justice.

"You are well aware that one of the primary objectives of the current interim government is to ensure the safety of lives and property for the public," Chowdhury said, addressing law enforcement officials. 

He added that the operation targets “fascists, their associates, criminals, anarchists, and terrorists” and aims to punish them as examples for others.

Though Chowdhury noted that fascism has been largely eradicated, he warned that their supporters, both within and outside the country, continue to conspire against the government. 

He described how these fascist groups amassed vast wealth illegally over 16 years and used it to oppress those who stood against them.

"Those who stood against the wrongdoings of the fascists were labeled as traitors," Chowdhury pointed out, adding that critics were silenced through threats, legal cases, and harassment.

He accused the fascists of taking control of the media, influencing the judiciary, and creating an unfair system that benefited only a select few.

According to him, they also fostered corruption by creating a class of loyalists who profited from the regime’s rule.

Chowdhury cautioned that these same groups are now using their illegal wealth to sow chaos and maintain influence, with help from "sinister forces."

He explained that the government‍‍`s current focus is to bring to justice those involved in criminal activities, including the helmeted gangs responsible for violence and the corrupt individuals facing charges from the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Already, law enforcement agencies like the police, RAB, and armed forces have arrested many criminals involved in recent unrest, Chowdhury revealed. 

He noted that since February 8, ‍‍`Operation Devil Hunt‍‍` has been ramped up, aiming to track down more lawbreakers and their allies.

The operation is being led by the Home Ministry through the ‍‍`Joint Operation Center‍‍`, headquartered at the Police Headquarters.

Coordination at the local level will be managed by Metropolitan Police Commissioners and District Magistrates. 

Judicial officials, including judges, public prosecutors, and law enforcement officers, are all involved in ensuring criminals face justice.

"The government has appointed eight judicial magistrates in the Dhaka Metropolitan area for conducting summary trials of the criminals," said Chowdhury. 

He urged the police to remain steadfast in their duties, stressing the importance of holding criminals accountable.

Chowdhury also urged lawyers to work closely with prosecutors to ensure swift justice, particularly in cases involving terrorism. 

"Be extremely cautious to ensure that no terrorist is granted bail," he warned.

Asif Nazrul, the government’s Legal Advisor, also spoke at the event, highlighting the challenges they face in maintaining law and order. 

He claimed that “fallen fascists” are spending vast amounts of money to destabilize the country and advised caution in granting bail to anyone involved in unrest.

Nazrul pointed out that 15 years of lawlessness allowed criminals to go unchecked, and that justice must be served to prevent further anarchy.

“If law enforcement agencies perform their duties properly, mob justice will decrease, and everyone must be responsible,” he added.

Housing and Public Works Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan also addressed the event, calling for widespread reforms across all sectors of government. 

"We must work based on justice. There must be no more disappearances or extrajudicial killings. Criminals should be brought under the law for trial," he said, stressing the importance of balancing human rights with policing.

The advisors‍‍` comments mark a significant moment as Bangladesh ramps up efforts to restore law and order while maintaining human rights and transparency in the justice system. 

The message was clear: no criminal, no matter how influential, should escape the law‍‍`s reach.