Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Press Briefing
Venue: Central Office, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
Date: May 30, 2010
Time: 11.30 A M
Dear Journalist friends,
Assalamu Alikum Wa Rahmatullah.
The countrymen all know that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is a constitutional, democratic, lawful and a legal political party. It is a party associated with the people, which believe in the election process. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami holds its meetings- rallies as its routine programmes. But you see that the government snatches our fundamental rights by imposing Section 144 continuously on our meetings-rallies. Till now, the government has foiled our meetings-rallies in more than 20 places including Rajshahi, Chittagong, Bogra, Dinajpur, Chapai-Nababganj, Barisal, Satkhira, Sylhet, Sherpur, Meherpur, Jessore, Netrokona and Comilla by imposing Section 144. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has been trying to aware the people its agenda in a constitutional, peaceful and democratic manner through its meetings-rallies. Till today, Jamaat-e-Islami has staged mammoth meetings in different divisional cities. Our meetings were very peaceful and the participation of the people was immense by the grace of Almighty Allah. Jamaat-e-Islami has proved by its activities that it is a peace loving party free of terrorism.
You know that our country is going on with multi-party democratic system. Jamaat-e-Islami has also the fundamental rights to express its agenda before the countrymen through its meetings-rallies like other political parties. With that target Dhaka Metropolitan City Unit of Jamaat-e-Islami has decided to hold a meeting on May 31 at Paltan Maidan. Accordingly the Secretary, Metropolitan City Unit of Jamaat-e-Islami, Mr. Hamidur Rahman Azad MP applied for permission on 10th May to the National Sports Council (Jatiyo Krira Parishad) to use Paltan Maidan for holding tomorrow’s (May 31) meeting. On 18th May, the National Sports Council permitted Dhaka Metropolitan City Unit of Jamaat-e-Islami to use Paltan Maidan on 31st May receiving Taka 1,50,000 (One Lac and Fifty Thousand) as security deposit. On that day, the National Sports Council forwarded copies of its permission letter to the following government officials:
1. Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports/ Home, Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka,
2. Inspector General of Police, Bangladesh Police, Dhaka,
3. Police Commissioner, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Dhaka,
4. Chief Executive Officer, Dhaka City Corporation, Nagar Bhaban, Dhaka,
5. Deputy Police Commissioner, Motijheel, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Dhaka,
6. Special Police Super, City Special Unit, 10/A, Bailey Road, Dhaka,
7. Secretary, National Sports Council, Dhaka,
8. Director, (Administration/Finance), National Sports Council, Dhaka,
9. P.S to the Chairman, National Sports Council, Dhaka,
10. Officer-in-Charge, Paltan Thana, DMP, Dhaka,
11. Administrator, Bangabandhu National Stadium/Maulana Bhasani Stadium, Dhaka.
Dear Journalist friends,
On 20th May, the Secretary, Metropolitan City Unit of Jamaat-e-Islami, Mr. Hamidur Rahman Azad MP applied for permission to the Police Commissioner, Dhaka Metropolitan Police for using micro-phone and maintain law and order in the meeting to be held on tomorrow on 31st May. He has sought an appointment to the Chief of Police and Police Commissioner, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, but they informed that it would not be possible to give an appointment before to-day i.e. Sunday. On the other hand, it was communicated through letters with the respective police station and Metropolitan Police for permission to use micro-phone. But with utter surprise, they kept mum without any response, yes or no. However, some of the Police officials suggested contacting with the government politically.
We have taken all measures and arrangements to hold the meeting as we have got the permission to use Paltan Maidan and we informed the whole nation through you. It is to be mentioned here that when we applied for using Paltan Maidan on 31st May, we were confirmed till 29th May that none applied for permission to use the same venue. All on a sudden, on behalf of Awami Jubo League, it was said that they have applied before and they could know about the meeting of Jamaat-e-Islmai only yesterday. It is a downright false-hood. We are simply astonished how they conveyed such an untrue statement, which did not crunch into their conscience at all. Yesterday on 29th May, suddenly they declared meeting at Paltan Maidan on 31st May tomorrow. But they were not permitted to hold meeting at Paltan Maidan on that day, rather the permission was given to Jamaat-e-Islami for tomorrow’s meeting. By announcing meeting at the same venue, the Awami Jubo League not only breaks the law unethically, more over they cites nasty examples of heinousness and jealousy. By this the government has proved that they fear the people. After the declaration of the meeting of Awami Jubo League yesterday on 29th May, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police declared ban on all meetings-rallies around Paltan Maidan from 12 to-night till next announcement.
Dear friends,
The government and the Police administration have shown unfair and hide and seek policy with respect to the meetings-rallies of Jamaat-e-Islami at Paltan Maidan. The proofs are: (a) We got permission to use Paltan Maidan lawfully, (b) The Police administration kept silent over the prayer for using micro-phone, (c) The Jubo League is a component organization of Awami League, so it was not possible to announce meeting at Paltan Maidan by Jubo League without the direction of the government. (d) Just after the declaration of meeting by Jubo League, the Police has imposed ban on meetings-rallies in that area. It clearly seems that the declaration of meeting by Jubo League at Paltan Maidan and banning of meetings-rallies at Paltan Maidan and its surroundings by the Police are stringed together. We mean that this activity of the government is a deep conspiracy against Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Further this is also oppression to the Jamaat-e-Islami by the government. We strongly condemn and protest this type of conspiracy and oppression of the government.
Dear fellow Journalists,
It is well-known to all that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is a law-abiding, constitutional, systematic, democratic political party. The role of Jamaat-e-Islami in establishing democracy and manifesting parliamentary system of politics is historically recognized. There is no instance of connection with any unconstitutional, undemocratic and unlawful activities by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Where ever we held meetings-rallies, whatever its size, small, medium or big; these were enriched with golden history. In the democratic history of Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami is a movement of glaring example. We are astound and disappointed by the undemocratic and intolerable acts of the government with such a party like Jamaat-e-Islami. By this acts of the government itself proves that they do not want the parliamentary democracy and multi party politics. It seems that the attitude of the government is to establish one-party rule and dominance through oppression to the opposition.
We believe that the democratic minded people of Bangladesh are observing the heinous role of the government with utter resentment. We also believe that the democratic world would come forward to condemn and protest these types of heinous acts of the government.
Dear Journalist friends,
We think that the future of democracy in Bangladesh is uncertain, if the activities of the government run in such a way. This means that the continuation of democratic system would not be possible by this government. So we believe that the conscious people of Bangladesh would not accept the unconstitutional and undemocratic role of the government. Rather they would resist the undemocratic activities of the government.
I have been continuously trying to contact the government after the banning of meetings-rallies around Paltan Maidan by the Metropolitan Police. But with great regret, my attempt has not been succeeding. So I expect the personal interference of the Hon’ble Prime Minister through you and put up the following demand;
1. The programme of the meeting of Jubo League should be withdrawn,
2. The banning of meeting-rally at Paltan Maidan and its surroundings by Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner should be withdrawn,
3. To accord permission for using micro-phone at Paltan Maidan tomorrow on 31st May to make the meeting of Jamaat-e-Islami successful.
Dear fellow Journalists,
We hope that the government would accept our just and lawful demands and would wither away hindrances to make our meeting of 31st May a success. Not only that the government should arrange our meeting in a good manner which is our democratic right.
As we always avoid the politics of conflict and confusion, we are also determined to establish all our rights. For that matter we cannot surrender to the rash, unconstitutional and undemocratic role of the government. We hope that the government will remove all existing hindrances within this period in making the meeting of Jamaat-e-Islami a success tomorrow on 31st May, as the time is not running out yet. Otherwise the government will have to bear all the responsibilities.
Dear Journalist friends,
Thank you all for hearing my deliberation with patience.
Allah Hafez. Bangladesh Zindabad. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Zindabad.
Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed
Secretary General, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islamir
And Former Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
