Acting Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former member of the Parliament Professor Mujibur Rahman has issued the following statement on 6th March, 2018 protesting and condemning the objectionable remarks of finance minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, which he has made about Jamaat-e-Islami while talking to the journalists on 5th March.
“Replying to a journalist’s queries, Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith on 5th March has made some unpleasant comments against Jamaat-e-Islami, country’s largest Islamic party, which are completely untrue, unjustified, illogical and indecent. The countrymen are deeply shocked and surprised at his irresponsible, ridiculous and improper comments.
The people of Bangladesh are well informed that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is a lawful Islamic political party, which sincerely believes in democratic values. Jamaat-e-Islami has been operating its political activities as per law and the constitution of the country. The role of Jamaat-e-Islami is constructive always. Since the independence of the country, Jamaat-e-Islami has taken part in all parliamentary elections and the party had its representative in the parliament in all occasions.
Besides, significant numbers of Jamaat backed candidates have secured victory in different local government elections. Jamaat-e-Islami actively participated in all the democratic movements of the country in order to secure people’s voting rights. Former Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami and veteran language movement hero, Late Professor Ghulam Azam had proposed the concept of caretaker government system which has received recognition and appreciation both in local and global arena. The incumbent government has got the opportunity to clinch the power through the same caretaker government formula. But coming to the power, they have scrapped the system in a bid to snatch away people’s voting rights and also to stay in power forever. The peoples of Bangladesh have no political rights now and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has become the worst victim of government’s vengeance.
The present government unlawfully created hindrance to the political activities of all parties including Jamaat-e-Islami. This is an unelected fascist government. This government do not believe in democracy. So such an arrogant comment from this government’s finance minister is not unusual. The countrymen also refuted his terrorist like comment in which he voiced to ‘expel Jamaat-e-Islami from the country.’ Jamaat is doing politics based on public support and sympathy. The repression and torture of the government has taken that public support into a new height. Jamaat is not functioning on the basis of finance minister’s mercy. Rather, Jamaat is doing politics for the sake of the people, for the welfare of the country. This is why, finance minister’s ridiculous comment failed to receive public attention.
I hope, as a senior citizen, finance minister would be refrained from making such untrue, unjustified, illogical and indecent comments against Jamaat-e-Islami in future. Besides, I am calling upon the concerned authorities to release all the detained leaders and activists of 20 party alliances and particularly of Jamaat-e-Islami and simultaneously to restore citizen’s fundamental and political rights of holding processions and rallies. I am also urging the authorities to undertake effective steps to hold a free, fair and credible election under a caretaker government immediately.
