Assistant Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 9 December 2018 protesting and condemning the unjustified arrest of Rajshahi district’s Bagha Upazila Jamaat Secretary Md. Sekandar Ali, Natore district’s Bagatipara Upazila Jamaat member Bazlur Rahman, Alia Union Jamaat Secretary Md. Ali, Bagatipara Upazila’s Jamnagar Union Jamaat Secretary Md. Tarikul Islam, activist Mansur Rahman, Ashraful Islam and Dinajpur district’s Hakimpur Upazila Khatta Madhabpara Union’s 4 no. ward’s elected member Mujahidul Islam.

“Ahead of the national election, the government has been arresting the leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami from Rajshahi, Natore and Dinajpur without any arrest warrant in order to hold a farcical and voter less election. I am vehemently condemning the such unlawful and wrongful behaviors of the police forces.

The election commission has stated that no one will be arrested without arrest warrant after the declaration of the election schedule. But ignoring their instructions, police is continuously arresting the Jamaat activists. The election commission is not making any effort to control the administration. The law enforcing agencies have established a reign of terror by continuing their arrest drives even in the remote areas. They are frightening the people to keep them away from voting. I expect that the concerned authorities would take due steps to stop the wrongful activities of the police forces and also to ensure level-playing ground for all candidates.

I am calling upon the authorities concerned to stop the unjust arrest drives of the law enforcers and to release all the detained leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and other opposition parties.