Dhaka, Dec 13 (NationPress) The interim government of Bangladesh has announced the commencement of the second phase of 'Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2' nationwide, emphasizing the necessity to curb subversive actions involving illegal weapons as the February 2026 elections approach, according to local media.

During a press briefing in Dhaka, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the Home Affairs Advisor for the interim government, revealed this decision following a critical committee meeting focused on the law and order landscape. This gathering occurred just one day after the shooting incident involving Sharif Osman Hadi, the spokesperson for the radical activist group, Inqilab Mancha.

Alam further stated that law enforcement has been directed to apprehend those responsible for Hadi's shooting.

"We are committed to ensuring that those behind this heinous act face justice swiftly. No individual involved will evade accountability," quoted Bangladeshi media outlet UNB regarding the Home Advisor's statements.

Hadi, who is considered a possible independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency in the forthcoming February elections, was shot in the head in broad daylight in the Bijoynagar area of the capital. He remains in critical condition and is on life support in a Dhaka hospital.

The initial phase of 'Operation Devil Hunt' was launched earlier this year following an attack on February 7, involving 15-16 students at the residence of A K M Mozammel Haque, a former Liberation War Affairs Minister.

According to the Mandhaka Sanskriti Foundation (MSF), a human rights organization cited by the prominent Bengali daily Prothom Alo, over 11,313 individuals were arrested during the first phase of Operation Devil Hunt in Bangladesh from February 8 to February 28. The report indicated that a majority of those detained were affiliated with the previous Awami League administration, showcasing the intensifying crackdown on the party.

Under the Yunus-led interim government, Bangladesh has experienced a troubling surge in violence and escalating political vendetta.

Last month, the Awami League party accused the Yunus government of conspiring to lead the nation into an uncertain future, cautioning that a new form of "mob terrorism" has emerged as an organized terror tactic.

Criticizing the Yunus regime, the party asserted that since the illegal takeover of power, incidents of murder, rape, theft, robbery, looting, and mugging have drastically increased across the country.