Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Ameer and former lawmaker Professor Mujibur Rahman addressed a press conference on 16th August 2023 protesting the administration’s obstacles in holding Namaj-e-Janaja of Allama Delwar Hossain Sayedee (Rahimahullah), attack on the funeral prayer in absentia in various places of the country, killing of one Forkan Uddin in Chokoria of Cox’s Bazar and the arrests of more than 200 Jamaat leaders and activists through a nationwide arrest drive. Central executive committee member of Jamaat-e-Islami and party’s press and media secretary Advocate Matiur Rahman Akanda hosted the program. Among others, Jamaat’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum, Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim, Central executive committee member of Jamaat-e-Islami and Dhaka south city Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul, Jamaat’s central working committee member and Dhaka north city Ameer Abdur Rahman Musa, Dhaka south city’s Assistant Secretary Delwar Hossain and Kamal Hossain, Dhaka north city Jamaat’s assistant secretary Mahfuzur Rahman, Dhaka south city Jamaat’s working committee member Abdur Rahman and Majlish-e-Shura member Ashraful Alam Emon were present on the occasion.
Professor Mujibur Rahman’s address to the nation is given below:
Dear countrymen,
With a saddened and broken heart, I am informing you that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer, one of the prominent leaders of the global Islamic movement, world renowned preacher of the Quran, Islamic thinker Allama Delwar Hossain Sayedee died on 14th August at 8.40 pm. Innalillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun.
Considering the arrival of one of his sons, who was on board to Dhaka, we had scheduled the date of Janaja on 16th August. Listening to the news, hundreds of thousands of people started gathering in the premise of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. The gathering was continued to increase as the time flies. Watching the huge presence, the law enforcers took an initiative to take the dead body directly to Pirojpur, the home district of Allama Sayedee. The general people slept Infront of the ambulance and chanted slogans demanding a Namaj-e-Janaja in Dhaka. The law enforcers at one point, started throwing sound grenade, bullets and tear shell inside the hospital and put the environment of the hospital in danger. Even in war, there is no precedence to attack inside the hospital facilities. Police’s attack left the attendants and general musullis of the mosque. More than 50 people got injured in this incident.
Allama Sayedee’s Namaj-e-Janaja finally held in Pirojpur. To obstruct public participation, the government stopped bus communication within the neighboring districts. The administration also pressed to complete Janaja within short span of time. The way, Namaj-e-Janaja is not being obstructed even in a non-Muslim country. Ignoring all the barriers, millions of people took part in the Namaj-e-Janaja. The people burst into tears recalling the loving memories of their leader.
Then Namaj-e-Janaja (funeral prayer in absentia) also held in various places of the country spontaneously. But the law enforcers also attacked on the participants of these funeral prayers. The Muslims of the port city Chittagong arranged a funeral player at the Jamiatul Falah mosque. Police created bar, opened fire which left more than 20 people injured.
Police also arrested 30 people from the spot. Funeral prayer was also organized in Cox’s Bazar Sadar and Chokoria Upazila. Police also opened fire against the Muslim devotees. Chokoria municipality’s number one ward’s resident Forkan Uddin was killed and some other became injured in this attack. Funeral prayer in absentia was also held in Sylhet. Police arrested two people from the spot. Police also carried raids in different houses and establishments in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Bogra and Jamalpur. 200 people were arrested during these arrest drives. We are protesting and condemning these unjust arrest drives.
We have also observed with deep concern, the law enforcers have caused a black part of history by obstructing the religious programs. But DMP commissioner in a press meet has distorted the incident of 14th August which have shocked the total nation. He declared not to allow Jamaat-e-Islami to hold funeral in absentia on 16th August. It is the right of all citizens to participate Janaja, funeral prayer in absentia or other religious programs. There is no need to take permission for holding such religious programs. So, DMP commissioner’s declaration nothing but a crossing of limit. His remark has hurt the religious sentiment of the people. As funeral in absentia already took place on 15th August in the national mosque Baitul Mukarram and a significant number of people attended the prayer so, there is no necessity of holding another funeral in absentia in the same place again on 16th August.
Dear journalists,
Allama Delwar Hossain Sayedee is victim of torture, harassment and repression. The government filed a false and concocted case against him and based on the false testimony of some ruling partymen, he was sentenced life-term imprisonment. His trial was nothing but a farce. He was made deprived from his constitutional and basic rights. Even, his families were not allowed to meet him properly during his 13-year long imprisonment. He was not given proper treatment. Even after the tribunal verdict, he was produced in various other court in connection with other case as the authority tried to harass him by all means. He was not exempted from physical appearance despite his illness.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer, world renowned preacher of the Quran and former MP Allama Delwar Hossain Sayedee suffered severe chest pain on 13th August afternoon. Initially he was taken to a local hospital. But due to his deteriorating condition, he was transferred and admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital at the same night. Despite repeated arrest, his family members were not informed about the update of his treatment. They were not allowed to meet him for once. Even he was not given an attendant. He was not allowed to meet his wife and sons for the last occasion. This is not only the violation of human rights rather an inhuman practice as well. We are vehemently condemning all these incidents.
Dear journalists,
Allama Delwar Hossain Sayedee is a popular figure. He is the only Bangladeshi citizen to get the chance into the holy space of Kabaa. He secured people’s mind by conveying the message of the Quran to millions of people across the globe. Several countries awarded him with prestigious reward. He became member of parliament from his constituency for twice. He was the president of the parliamentary committee on religious affairs. He discharged duties as the panel speaker of the parliament for several times. There is no district in Bangladesh, in which he did not visit and presented lectures and discussion on the holy Quran. His lectures have inspired many youths to embrace Islam and to exercise Islamic regulations. He led the biggest ever funeral prayers in country’s history. But after his death, his followers and lovers became deprived of attending his funeral prayers. Such negative role of the police force will be regarded as a stigma in country’s history.
Dear journalists, we are observing with deep concern that the important institution and organs are functioning with political motive instead of maintaining professionalism and institutional aspects. Judiciary is one of such organs. The justices are oath bound to ensure justice ignoring their personal emotion, anger and biasedness. But we saw that a justice mentioned the name of Allama Sayedee and Jamaat-e-Islami while discussing a discussion program on 15th August. He violated the judicial norms and code of conduct of the jurists.
Fellow journalists,
Different political parties, individuals, institutions, organizations and different global platforms have expressed condolence at the death of Allama Sayedee. Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP, Hefazat-e-Islam, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Islamic organization, religious scholars, intellectuals and academicians have issued condolence message as well. Funeral prayers in absentia took places in different countries of the world. We are expressing our gratitude to all of them.
On behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami, I am declaring the following programs, protesting the administration’s obstacles in holding Namaj-e-Janaja of Allama Delwar Hossain Sayedee (Rahimahullah), attack on the funeral prayer in absentia in various places of the country, killing of one Forkan Uddin in Chokoria of Cox’s Bazar and the arrests of more than 200 Jamaat leaders and activists through a nationwide arrest drive:
1. Nationwide prayer program on 18th August
2. Peaceful demonstration across the country on 23rd August
I am seeking the assistance of the countrymen, and Jamaat leaders and activists and the administration to make the declared programs successful.
Dear journalist friends,
Allama Sayedee is physically no more among us. But he has left lots of lectures, address, interpretations of the holy Quran, discussion of the Prophet’s life, and other Islamic issues for us. His lectures and sermons have been archived through audio video lectures. I am urging the fan and followers, and well-wishers of Allama Sayedee and the Islam loving people to spread all these contents at all spheres of the society.
