Bangladesh Launches "Operation Devil Hunt" Against Sheikh Hasina Loyalists Amid Protests

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's residence in Dhanmondi, known as 'Sudhasadan', along with multiple family-owned properties and 124 bank accounts. The decision was made by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Ghalib in response to a request from the Anti-Corruption Commission, according to local reports. The properties seized include assets belonging to Hasina's son, Sajib Wazed Joy, her daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, and her sister, Sheikh Rehana. 'Sudhasadan' is notably named after Hasina's late husband, nuclear scientist MA Wazed Miah. These developments follow Hasina's flight to India after a mass student-led movement led to her ouster in August 2024. The interim government, spearheaded by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, has since been established. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry has expressed strong objections to Hasina's alleged incendiary statements made during her time in India, claiming they incite instability and hurt national sentiments.

Protests ignited across Bangladesh following the death of an eight-year-old girl who succumbed to injuries from a brutal rape incident, which occurred in Magura. Authorities reported that the girl was attacked at her sister's house between March 5 and 6. Her sister's 18-year-old husband, along with his family, has been arrested in connection with the crime. The child, who died on Thursday after suffering three cardiac arrests, was hospitalized for six days in critical condition. "I thought my daughter would survive," her mother lamented, expressing despair over the tragic loss. The girl's body was transported back to Magura via army helicopter, leading to fierce protest actions including the torched home of the alleged rapist. Thousands attended her Islamic funeral prayer, while additional protests, including a mock coffin demonstration by students at Dhaka University, called for expedited justice and clearer definitions in rape law. Legal advisor Asif Nazrul announced that the trial is set to commence within a week, emphasizing the need for rapid judicial proceedings in light of the recent surge in child rape cases in the country.

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are facing a dire situation as militant groups reportedly force them to return to Myanmar to fight for the military accused of genocide against them, according to Sky News. The UN has classified the military's actions against the Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim minority, as genocide following an exodus of around 700,000 individuals in 2017 due to horrific violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State. Many of the refugees, including children, are being abducted at gunpoint from makeshift camps in Cox's Bazar. A 19-year-old identified as Jaker stated that he was taken by force last year along with others, adding that "many of our Rohingya boys... were killed in battle." The escalating violence in the camps has led to an alarming rise in recruits for both the military and ethnic armed groups like the Arakan Army, which is gaining control in Rakhine. While some, like Abu Zar, express willingness to fight for their own rights, many are coerced into service. Reports indicate that 3,000 to 5,000 Rohingya from Bangladesh have joined armed factions, and the situation remains profoundly hazardous for those in the camps.