Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 23^rd November 2023 appreciating the Jamaat activists and the countrymen and simultaneously protesting the ongoing torture and repression of the government.

I am thanking the Jamaat leaders and activists and the fellow countrymen for making the blockade successful on 22^nd and 23^rd November which had been declared protesting the perverse judgment in Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration case and the election schedule of a one-sided election and simultaneously demanding resignation of the oppressor regime, formation of caretaker government, release of Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and other political detainees, withdrawal of all false cases and for bringing the prices of the essentials within people’s capacity.

By rejecting the appeal plea, Jamaat has been made deprived from the opportunity to take part in the election with its electoral symbol. Besides, this verdict also created a bar for the Jamaat supporters to cast their votes, who belong to 20 percent of total population. Such step is a major obstruction in the path of expanding democracy.

By declaring schedule for one-sided election, the election commission took the side of the ruling party. The biased commission and their activities are always questionable. The nation rejected the schedule already. The commission should declare new schedule as per the views of the general masses.

To obstruct the Jamaat declared blockade, the law enforcers along with the ruling party cadres carried attacks in various places. They are shifting the blame of vandalism, arson and anarchy upon the opposition parties. Police arrested 53 Jamaat leaders and activists in last 24 hours. Police arrested 7 Jamaat activists from Badda thana of the capital; of them there is one Rafiqul Islam Sharif, who has lost two hands in a massive road accident. At present, he cannot do any work by himself alone. But police arrested him. Even his bail plea was denied. Denying bail to such a crippled man is painful and tragic. Earlier, on last 16^th October, some helmet wearing miscreants attacked Jamaat leader Maulana Abu Nawshad Nomani in Nolodanga Upazila under Natore district and similar attacked village doctor Aladuddin on 25^th October. Police did not arrest the miscreants rather they are harassing the victims in connection with false cases. I am condemning the oppression and the unjustified arrest drives and demanding release of all political detainees.