16 December 2018, Sun, 11:56

Opposition’s candidate for Satkhira-4 constituency Gazi Nazrul Islam arrested; Professor Mujib condemns

Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former lawmaker Professor Mujibur Rahman has issued the following statement on 16 December 2018 protesting and condemning the unjustifiable arrest of 20-party alliance’s candidate for Satkhira-4 constituency and Jamaat leader Gazi Nazrul Islam and Shamnagar Upazila council’s elected chairman Maulana Abdul Bari.

“The government and the election commission has started conspiracy to hold a lopsided farcical election and as a part of the same conspiracy, Gazi Nazrul Islam and Maulana Abdul Bari have been arrested. I am vehemently condemning the arrest incidents.

Gazi Nazrul Islam has been arrested today a day after the Prime Minister’s speech in which she targeted several opposition candidates. This unjustified detention proved that Gazi Nazrul Islam has been arrested as per the instruction of the Prime Minister.

The government and the election commission are verbally talking about holding a free, fair and credible election. But practically they have hatched conspiracy to secure the victory of the Awami League led grand alliance candidates. The opposition candidates and the activists are not allowed to conduct electioneering anywhere in the country. Rather they are being obstructed. The ruling party goons are attacking the opposition’s processions. In many places, they are snatching the opposition candidate’s posters away and burn their campaign offices into ashes. Even the law enforcers are also opening fire against the opposition candidates and his companions. It is quite surprising that despite such adversities, the chief election commissioner claimed to create level-playing ground. The speeches and comments of the government and the election commissioners, it has become clear that they are making conspiracies to foil the election.

The aforesaid incidents further proved that neither the government, nor the election commission are inclined to hold a free, fair and credible election. I am calling upon the countrymen to stand against government’s tortures, arrest drives and repression and also to resist the conspiracies of foiling elections.  

For the sake of a fair election, I am urging the concerned authorities to stop arrest drives and crackdowns and to release all the detained opposition leaders and activists including Gazi Nazrul Islam immediately.