An initiative has been taken by Jamaat-e-Islami' Dhaka south city to organize a peaceful procession on next 5th June demanding the restoration of the caretaker government system for holding a free, fair and credible election, controlling the price hike of the essentials and simultaneously demanding immediate release of Jamaat Ameer and other detained leaders. To make this program successful, Dhaka south Jamaat sent an application on 28th May to Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner through online seeking due assistance.

Today on 29th May, 4 lawyers of Bangladesh Supreme court led by Supreme Court Advocate Saifur Rahman went to the DMP commissioner's office on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami. But they were not allowed to enter over there. Rather, they were arrested by the policemen led by ADC Harunur Rashid and Biplob Kumar.

No one has the right to arrest someone from DMP commissioner's office gate as they went over there simply to seek permission. DMP office is an office of a law enforcement agency of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. All citizens have the rights to visit such offices. As such, the incident of arresting advocates from the DMP commissioner's office gate is tragic and contradictory to the spirit of human rights.

According to the constitution, all political parties have the rights to hold peaceful programs. Jamaat-e-Islami has systematically sent the lawyers to seek permission of the police forces. But instead of issuing permission, police have arrested the lawyers and denied their constitutional rights.

Protesting and condemning such role of the policemen, Jamaat-e-Islami's Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has issued a statement today.

In the statement, he said, Jamaat-e-Islami is legal political party. They sought permission to hold a peaceful program. But denying that plea, the police force has disregarded the constitutionally guaranteed rights of holding processions and freedom of speech. We are severely condemning the incident.

He further said, the detained lawyers are very well recognised lawyers of Bangladesh Supreme court. Several of them had discharged duties earlier as the elected representatives of the lawyers. The detained lawyers are: former Assistant Secretary of Supreme Court Bar Advocate Saifur Rahman, former vice-president of Supreme Court Bar Advocate Jalal Uddin, Supreme Court lawyer Abdul Karim and Mustafizur Rahman.

I am urging the concerned authorities to release all the detained lawyers and also to give permission for holding peaceful rallies and procession on 5th June.