Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Ameer and former lawmaker Professor Mujibur Rahman has issued the following statement on 9th December, 2023 on the occasion of international Human Rights Day on 10th December.
“World Human Rights Day is going to be observed on 10th December. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 and sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected.
Human rights are severely being violated in various places of the world including Gaza and the entire Palestine, Kashmir, Myanmar and other countries. The brutal Israeli forces are conducting genocide in Gaza in order to eliminate the Muslim inhabitants. Old people, women, men, teachers, students, Imam, Muazzin and intellectuals are not spared from the air attack and bombardment of the Israeli forces. Defying all rules and principles of war, Israeli forces have killed more than 18 thousand civilians in just two months and most of them are women and children. Gaza is witnessing unprecedented humanitarian crisis. 70 percents of the total houses of Gaza have been demolished. We do not have any word to condemn such brutalities. On the occasion of World Human Rights Day, we are urging United Nations, European Unions and all peaceful nations, organizations and institutions of the world to take effective measures for ensuring a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Frequent incidents of human rights violations are being committed in Bangladesh as well. Jamaat leaders have become the worst victims of human rights violation. The government has kept Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General and noted politician ATM Azharul Islam behind the bar for more than 13 years. The authorities also kept Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, central executive committee member and Dhaka north city Ameer Selim Uddin, central Majlish-e-Shura member and former MP Shahjahan Chowdhury and many other political leaders and activists detained in connection with some false cases. ATM Azharul Islam and Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan are being produced before the court with shackles, which is a sheer violation of human rights. We have drawn the attention of the court in this regard but so far did not get any remedy. Such attitudes with the Jamaat leaders are totally unconstitutional and inhuman.
A recent report revealed that since January 2023 till October, total 2,575 incidents of torture against women had taken place. 433 women have been murdered and 397 of them have been raped. In last 15 years, 30 journalists have been killed and 3,641 people have become the victims of harassment and torture. since January 2023 till November, 296 journalists have become the victims of attack, false cases, torture, murder and threats.
On the occasion of World Human Rights Day, I am urging the concerned authorities to release all political leaders. Besides, we are calling upon the people to be united for taking part in the ongoing movement for establishing democracy, rule of law, voting rights and other fundamental rights.
