Assistant Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan has issued the following statement on 31 October 2018 protesting and condemning the unjust arrest of Jessore district’s Sharsha Upazila Jamaat Ameer Maulana Habibur Rahman and 5 others, Gaibandha district’s Polashbari Upazila Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdul Mazid Akanda and 4 others, Sirajganj district’s Belkuchi Upazila Jamaat’s Secretary and Upazila council’s Vice-chairman Ariful Islam Sohel and Natore district Jamaat’s Secretary Dr. Mir Nurul Islam’s wife Mina Khatun.

“Ahead of the national election, police are arresting the leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami from different places across the country in order to destroy the leadership structure of this organization. I am vehemently condemning police’s arrest drive in Jessore, Gaibandha, Sirajganj, Natore and other places of the country.

The government is arresting the leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatrashibir as they failed to tackle Jamaat-e-Islami politically. Even the women with religious attires and the elected public representatives are not spared from government’s oppression. The government is detaining the Jamaat men in connection with some false and fictitious cases. These ongoing situations substantiate that the authority is not interested to hold a free, fair and inclusive election. They are more interested to conduct another farcical election by using the state apparatus. So, to ensure a fair, credible and inclusive election, there is no alternative but launching a massive movement.

I am urging all the concerned authorities to stop arrest drive and to release all the detained activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatrashibir including those who have been arrested Jessore, Gaibandha, Sirajganj, Natore