DHAKA: After protesters were attacked by gangs allegedly connected to the ousted regime of ex-leader Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh on Sunday launched a major operation.

According to the government statement, the operation began after gangs “linked to the fallen autocratic regime attacked a group of students, leaving them severely injured”.

Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, head of the interior ministry in the interim government that took over after Hasina was ousted in the August 2024 student-led revolution, has dubbed it “Operation Devil Hunt”.

“It will continue until we uproot the devils,” Chowdhury told reporters.

The sweeping security operations come after days of unrest.

On Wednesday, six months to the day since Hasina fled as crowds stormed her palace in Dhaka, protesters smashed down buildings connected to her family using excavators.

Protests were triggered in response to reports that 77-year-old Hasina — who has defied an arrest warrant to face trial crimes against humanity —