Central Executive Committee member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and party’s central publicity Affairs Secretary Matiur Rahman Akanda has issued the following statement on 21 April 2021 protesting and condemning the physical assault against a youth namely Mahmud Hasan Raihan in Patuakhali. The miscreants attacked him as they considered him as Chhatrashibir activist.

Mahmud Hasan Raihan and several other volunteers distributed iftar items among the labor communities in Patuakhali circuit house area on 20 April. At that time, local Awami League cadres attacked them without any substantial reason. We are vehemently condemning the incident.

The nation is undergoing a lockdown due to deteriorating covid-19 pandemic situation. In this critical condition, it is our moral obligation to take stand by the side of the helpless people. These youths are serving people from that perspective. Definitely it was a noble initiative. But the miscreants, who are creating obstruction against these good deeds, who are they?

We are frequently observing that, some people are coming out of nowhere and disturbing the grassroots benevolent activities. Even, some of them are physically assaulting the volunteers and social workers and handing them over to the law enforcers. It becomes a bad habit of the Chhatra League and Jubo League cadres, to carry out attack the civilians by portraying him as Chhatrashibir activist. But even if a man gets involved with Chhatrashibir, why will he face such assault? Being a citizen of an independent country, it is truly shameful for us.

Islami Chhatrashibir is a legal student organization. It is not justified that just because of the affiliation with Chhatrashibir, a man will not be allowed to carry social works. Such approach clearly contradicts the constitution and the existing laws. Islami Chhatrashibir is working relentlessly to build up the ethical character of the student community. They are successfully working for the welfare of the people and also to resolve the crises of the student communities. This is why, Chhatrashibir has become the most beloved student organization of the general masses. Watching that growing popularity, some vested quarters are opposing Chhatrashibir without any reason and making intentional propaganda against this organization. But their ill-efforts will never be succeeded. Rather they are becoming disconnected from the people.

I am urging the concerned authorities to probe into the incident of assaulting youth in Patuakhali and also to take stern legal measures against the involved personnel.