Acting Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 18th October 2023 protesting and condemning the arrest of 15 Jamaat leaders and activists from various places of the country including Rajshahi city’s Kashiadangi thana Ameer Maulana Farid Uddin and Rajpara thana Ameer Professor Kamruzzaman Sohel.
“The demonstration programs are ongoing nationwide demanding the release of Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, other top leaders and religious scholars, withdrawal of false cases and the restoration of the caretaker government system. Since the declaration of the program, police have been conducting raids in the houses, offices and other institutions of Jamaat leaders and activists across the country. As a part of the same crackdown, police arrested 15 Jamaat leaders and activists including Rajshahi city’s Kashiadangi thana Ameer Maulana Farid Uddin, Rajpara thana Ameer Professor Kamruzzaman Sohel and 4 activists from Mymensingh district. The Awami League government has turned the entire nation into a prison. I am condemning such undemocratic and unjustified activities of the government.
Jamaat-e-Islami is a systematic and democratic Islamic political party. It is the constitutional right of a party to hold procession and rallies. No one has the right to deprive a party from availing such rights. The government want to subdue the dissident voices through torture and repression. The people have no more trust and confidence upon this government. They do not want to see this government in the office any more. I am urging the countrymen to raise voice against all the unlawful activities of the government.
We are urging the government to stop torture and harassment immediately and to release all detained party leaders and activists including Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and also to stepdown for facilitating an election under a caretaker government.
