Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's Assistant Secretary General and Head of its Central Publicity and Media Department, Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair today, on 18 December, issued a statement strongly condemning and protesting what he described as a completely false, baseless, and well-planned conspiracy to link Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatrashibir with certain remarks made regarding India’s territorial integrity.

In the statement, he said, “We are observing the intense public anger that has arisen among the people of Bangladesh in the situation created following the brutal attack on Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inqilab Mancha and one of the heroes of the July uprising, and subsequent reports that the attackers took refuge in a neighboring country. In this context, there has been widespread criticism in the public sphere regarding India’s role in the overall situation in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, within this discussion, remarks by some individuals concerning India’s territorial integrity have emerged, and in the online space there has regrettably been an attempt to link Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatrashibir with those remarks.”

He further said, “We want to clearly state that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned in firm language India’s conduct towards Bangladesh and any role aimed at destabilizing Bangladesh after the mass uprising of 5 August. At the same time, we strongly condemn the manner in which the attackers of Sharif Osman Hadi have taken refuge in India, and we urgently and forcefully call for their immediate handover to the law enforcement agencies of Bangladesh.”

He added, “However, we also want to state in the clearest possible terms that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is uncompromising when it comes to the question of the territorial integrity of any country. Any attempt to associate Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir with statements concerning the territorial integrity of any country is completely false, baseless, and part of a premeditated conspiracy. We call upon all concerned to immediately stop such propaganda and falsehood.”

He further said, “Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has always respected, and will continue to respect, justice, international law, the sovereignty of neighboring states, and their territorial integrity. At the same time, we will remain steadfast and unwavering in our firm position to protect the security of the people of Bangladesh, justice, and the national interest.”