Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 25th June, 2022 protesting and condemning the unjustified arrests of 6 Jamaat leaders and activists from Chittagong and Rangpur city.

“The government without any reason and provocation has arrested Chittagong city Jamaat’s organizing secretary and former city councilor Shamsuzzaman Helali. Earlier, he rushed to Sylhet for supporting flood victims and he also took a stand by the side of the waterlogged people of his own ward Shulokbohor. Is it his crime?

Meanwhile, police have conducted raids on 30 houses across different areas of Rangpur city. During this drive, police arrested Rangpur city’s Kotowali thana Ameer Forhad Hossein Mondol, working committee member Babul Hossein, Islami Chhatrashibir’s former leader Mahmud and Sumon, and 5 other leaders and activists. There was no arrest against them.

Police have arrested them just to harass them politically. We have been observing that, for the last couple of days, police have been arresting Jamaat leaders and activists by carrying out raids in different parts of the country. The government has hijacked the freedom of speech of the people. The entire nation has turned into a giant prison. I am condemning and protesting these unjustified arrests.

He further said that, the government is using the law enforcers as their tools instead of performing due state responsiblities. But they cannot stay for long by conducting such oppression and torture. The result and consequence of repression can never be positive. I am urging the concerned authorities to release all detained leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Chhatrashibir including Shamsuzzaman Helali, Forhad Hossein Mondol and Babul Hossein immediately.