Acting Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former lawmaker Professor Mujibur Rahman has issued the following statement on 8th April protesting and condemning the arrest of Dhaka North city Ameer and party's central executive committee member Mohammad Selim Uddin and 14 other distinguished and pious people and subsequent police remand against them and simultaneously demanding their immediate release.

"Dhaka North city Jamaat-e-Islami's Bhatara thana organised a discussion program titled " The contribution of Zakah in the socio-economic development on last 7th April. Iftar arrangement was also over there. But police arrested Mohammad Selim Uddin and 14 other pious people from the spot. The detainees were produced before a Dhaka court in connection with a false case today. The court granted 5 day police remand against Mohammad Selim Uddin and two days against other detainees. Such incident of arrest and police remands are unexpected, unwanted and it violates the spirit of basic human rights and the constitution. I am vehemently condemning this arrest drive.

Acting Ameer said, Zakah is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. Religious forums and organisations organised various discussion program, seminar and symposium in every Ramadan to encourage the affluent Muslims for paying their Zakah. Bhatara thana Jamaat has organised the program with the same spirit. But by arresting Muslim devotees from such a religious and particularly a Zakah-oriented program, the government has set the worst ever example of repression. Even in this holy month of Ramadan, people are being arrested frequently from various places of the country and torturing them in the name of police remand and detention. During these days of fasting, when people are remaining busy with rituals and similar devotional activities, at that time, the government is busy in arresting people which are nothing but oppression. The incumbent fascist government is creating obstacles for the citizens in exercising their religious freedom. These activities have exposed the anti-Islamic face of the government. The present government has no respect toward human rights, religious freedom and rule of law.

Acting Ameer further said, the movement for restoring democracy l and public rights is becoming intensified. The government realised that their tenure is going to be end soon. as such, they are arresting the opposition leaders and activists, particularly the nanpower of Jamaat-e-Islami frequently. The people of the country are not safe under the current regime. Murder, rape, enforced disappearance and custodial death became the daily routine of this government. The entire nation has been made a police state and the law enforcement agencies, instead of discharging their regular duties are being used as a government's tool to oppress the people with dissident views. But people's just movement can never be subdued by conducting such repression.

I am urging the countrymen to raise their voices against this repressor government. Besides, I am calling upon the concerned authorities to stop torture and oppression and also to release Mohammad Selim Uddin and other detainees immediately.