DHAKA: At least 663 people were arrested by Bangladesh police across the country in 24 hours as part of 'Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2', a nationwide crackdown launched to restore law and order and recover illegal firearms, local media reported, citing a senior police official.

Confirming the development, Assistant Inspector-General (Media & Public Relations) of Bangladesh Police Headquarters, AHM Shahadat Hossain, said that 663 people were taken into custody and nine firearms were recovered during the last 24 hours of the operation.

As part of routine nationwide police operations, 26,881 motorcycles and 26,573 vehicles were searched, resulting in the seizure of 342 illegal motorcycles during the drive, Bangladeshi leading daily Dhaka Tribune reported.

Last week, under 'Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2', police reportedly arrested at least 4,232 people across the country.

Bangladesh's interim government on December 13 decided to roll out the second phase of 'Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2' across the country, citing the need to prevent subversive activities using illegal arms ahead of the February 2026 elections, the local media reported.

Addressing journalists in Dhaka, the interim government's Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced the decision following a core committee meeting on the law and order situation.

The meeting was held a day after the gun attack on Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the radical platform, Inqilab Mancha.

'Operation Devil Hunt' was first launched throughout the country earlier this year following an incident on February 7 when 15-16 students were attacked at the home of former Liberation War Affairs Minister A.K.M. Mozammel Haque.

Citing human rights organisation Mandhaka Sanskriti Foundation (MSF), the country's leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo, reported that 11,313 people were arrested in Operation Devil Hunt across Bangladesh from February 8 to February 28.