Operation Devil Hunt: UP chairman, 6 other AL leaders detained in Hatia
Among the detainees, Alauddin is the chairman of Charishwar union parishad and president of union Awami League, while the rest are members of the same AL unit
The joint forces detained seven Awami League leaders, including a union parishad chairman, during separate drives at various areas in Noakhali's Hatia upazila last night (8 February).
Joint forces detained the AL leaders after the government launched a nationwide security operation, titled 'Operation Devil Hunt', yesterday (8 February) to maintain law and order situation across the country.
Those detained are Alauddin Azad, 64, former chairman of Charishwar Union in Hatia Upazila; Saddam Hossain, 26, son of Belal Uddin of Ward No. 1 of Hatia Municipality, Abul Kalam Bitu, 44, son of the late Abdus Shahid of Ward No. 3; Azim Uddin, 31, son of Alauddin of Adarshgram of Nijhum Dwip Union; Sirajul Islam Prakash Rakchan, 24, son of Mohin Uddin of Tamruddi Union; Abdul Majed Palash, 43, son of Haji Abdul Qayyum, and Abdul Zaher, 39.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Among the detainees, Alauddin is the chairman of Charishwar Union Parishad and president of union Awami League, while the rest are members of the same AL unit.
According to police, Alauddin was detained from Ward No 2 at Uskhali Old Bazar area and the other six were detained from different areas.
Confirming the matter, Officer-in-Charge of Hatia police station AKM Azmal Huda said this was the first operation of "Devil hunt". Legal action is underway against those detained.
The drives were conducted after the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement staged a sit-in protest in front of the home affairs adviser's residence on Minto Road in Dhaka for about three hours, starting from Thursday midnight (6 February).
The demonstration was led by Abdul Hannan Masud, one of the main organisers of the student body, one of the protesters confirmed the matter to The Business Standard.
The sit-in took place after Hannan through a Facebook post claimed that the law enforcement agencies had not conducted a drive against illegal weapons in Hatia, where he is from, despite repeated requests.
The protesters there had demanded the resignation of Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam.
Later, at around 2:45am on Friday (7 February), Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud came to the scene and asked them to call off their demonstration.
He also assured that a drive to recover illegal weapons would soon be conducted in the Savar and Hatia areas.
