June 26 is observed as the “International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.” On the occasion of this day, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar issued a statement on June 25.
In the statement, he said: "The fallen fascist government conducted various forms of oppression and torture upon opposition political activists and the general citizens of the country. People with dissident views were arrested and detained in prison for years without trial. Thousands of leaders and activists from the opposition, Islamic scholars, journalists, lawyers, and intellectuals were arrested, falsely accused in fabricated cases, imprisoned, and harassed. Freedom of expression was snatched away through attacks and legal harassment for criticizing the undemocratic and anti-Islamic and anti-national activities of the autocratic Hasina regime.
In a democratic system, it is natural for the opposition to legitimately criticize the government, point out its flaws and shortcomings, and also to raise public awareness. If a government cannot tolerate constructive criticism from the opposition, then it is not a democratic government. Rather, it is a tyrannical and autocratic regime. Regrettably, the autocratic Hasina government was just such a repressive regime."
He further stated: "During the tenure of this fallen government, incidents of enforced disappearances, murders, violence against women and children, and rape increased significantly. In their 15 and a half years of rule, countless people fell victim to extrajudicial killings. Many innocent people were killed after being subjected to extreme physical torture. Numerous individuals were abducted or murdered without cause. Thousands of women and children were subjected to rape. During the student and public uprising of last July, around 2,000 people were brutally killed.
Nearly 30,000 innocent people were permanently disabled. Thousands more were hospitalized, suffering from their injuries. The lives and property of ordinary citizens were never secure. There was virtually no freedom of speech in the country. Under the guise of the Cyber Security Act, journalists were subdued and silenced. They were frequently arrested and imprisoned simply for speaking out. Through rampant bribery, corruption, extortion, and manipulation of tenders, the country was economically crippled."
He said, “On the occasion of the United Nations-declared ‘International Day in Support of Victims of Torture,’ I extend my deepest condolences and solidarity to all oppressed and persecuted individuals, groups, organizations, and communities in Bangladesh and around the world. For generations, people have been subjected to cruel and ruthless torture under the patronage of states. Even in today’s so-called civilized and modern era, brutal torture continues to be inflicted on ordinary people across the globe through ongoing conflicts and violence. In Gaza and across Palestine, thousands of innocent men, women, and children are being killed. Very recently in Iran, false accusations have led to significant harm to life and property. The cruel oppression and torture being inflicted upon humanity in Palestine, the Middle East, and around the world must come to an end without delay.
On June 26, the ‘International Day in Support of Victims of Torture’ declared by the United Nations, I call upon the United Nations, various international human rights organizations, the OIC, and all peace-loving bodies and institutions to stand firmly in support of the world’s oppressed and persecuted people. At the same time, I urge the interim government of Bangladesh to immediately release all opposition leaders, activists, journalists, and Islamic scholars who were arrested during the tenure of the fallen government and are still in detention.”
