Acting Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former lawmaker Professor Mujibur Rahman has issued the following statement on 5th July, 2023 protesting and condemning the re-arrest of Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan for third times.
Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan was arrested on 6th September, 2021. Despite the objection of the prosecution, the appellate division subsequently upheld the bail orders in all cases filed against him. As a result, he was about to get released from Kashimpur jail on 9th March 2023. But Gazipur district police arrested him from the jail gate. Later, he was awarded bail in all cases. But, when he was about to get released, police appealed on 15th May to show him arrested in another case with Kolabagan police station. The court allowed that police plea on 21st May. But he was inside the prison during the claimed incident. Finally, he got bail in the case of the Paltan police station on 21st June. But instead of giving him release, the government sent a production warrant to the jail against him on 27th June. And today on 5th June, he was shown re-arrested for third times in connection with another false but regrettably he is still inside the prison. We are vehemently protesting and condemning the incident.
A national leader like Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan was produced before the court today by wearing shackles, which is a clear violation of human rights. It is shameful for the nation. Such horrible pictures of humiliating a national leader demonstrate the poor condition of the state and deplorable rule of law situation. It is a sheer violation of law if a person is not released from the jail gate even after receiving all bail bonds and relevant documents. If the government has minimum respect toward the law and the constitution, they could not harass Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan in such a humiliating way. He has become the victim of government’s political conspiracy and vengeance. Repeated incidents of re-arrest prove that there is no existence of rule of law and human rights in the country.
We are urging the concerned authorities to stop harassment and vindictive activities and also to release all detained leaders and activists including Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan immediately.
