Acting Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Maulana ATM Masum issued the following statement on 24th July, 2024 condemning the nationwide mass arrests, simultaneously protesting the provocative statements of the ministers, and demanding immediate withdrawal of curfew and also for accepting the just demands of the student community to restore peaceful situation nationwide.

In the statement, he further said, "To suppress the non-political movement of the student community, the government has caused huge bloodshed across the country by sponsoring mass killings through its its party cadres and police forces. The head of the government, the Prime Minister has tried to hide the real truth and put the blame for the genocide on the Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatrashibir and other opposition parties. Not only that, she launched mass arrests and political persecution across the country. The people did not accept the lie that the Prime Minister has spread in which she blamed Jamaat-Shibir for the violences. People are shocked by the despicable strategy of blaming the opposition political party for the terror activities which had been carried out by the ruling party cadres.

On July 24, in almost all the national dailies of the country, the country's intellectuals, columnists, journalists and lawyers have clearly mentioned that the Prime Minister is blaming the opposition political parties for using the non-political demands of the students politically. The people of the country have seen who have committed these murders. For last couple of days, the description of who were involved in violence, arson and destruction of state properties have been circulating in the state media and other visual media.

Whereas, in the news published in Prothom Alo, it is said that in the confessional statement in a court in Chittagong, a detained youth has clearly confessed that he set fire to the BRTC bus depot on the orders of the local Sramik League leader. The incident of arson was carried out with an advance of 500 taka on the promise of paying him 4 lakh taka more. The statement of the arrested youth proved that the arson incident was committed by a front organization of ruling Awami League. But the Prime Minister is trying to shift the responsibility of such crimes on the Jamaat-Shibir.

A report published in Daily Bangladesh Pratidin titled 'Who is the Godfather of the riots?' provides an analysis of who had attacked state institutions and properties, and what kinds of violent situation has been created in the movement due to instigation of the ruling ministers. In this analysis upheld government’s ill-efforts to put the blame on the Jamaat and the opposition parties for the recent anarchies.

The top lawyers of the country have commented that the massacre happened in the country because of the ruling party cadre’s attacks. It is evident from their comments that anarchy has been created across the country under the patronage of the government. The Prime Minister has made a gross lie by blaming the opposition for the 'violent incidents'. People did not accept her statement. In addition, the statements of the Inspector General of Police and his subordinate in regards to Jamaat-e-Islami and its Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar are nothing but a distortion of truth.

The coordinators of the quota reform movement clearly stated in the press conference on Tuesday that when they came under the threat of Chhatra League cadre’s attacks, at that time they became compelled to call upon the people of the country and the political leaders and activists to stand by them.

The people of the country are aware that the attacks on unarmed students started after the Minister for Road Transportation and Bridges had said that Chhatra League is enough to deal with general students. On 16th July, 7 students lost their lives across the country. Under such circumstances, the Prime Minister addressed the nation on 17th July. Through a press conference on 18th July, Jamaat-e-Islami condemned the nationwide anarchy, murder incidents of the agitating students. Jamaat also extended its support to the peaceful movement of the students and simultaneously urged the government to accept their demands.

Ruling party cadres attacked agitating students across the country. Besides, when the former mayor of Gazipur Jahangir attacked the unarmed students with his forces, a bloody incident took place in Uttara area of the capital which left at least 30 people killed. The government has to take the responsibility for the atrocities committed by Awami League Jahangir and his terrorist forces.

The people will not allow this unelected, illegal and undemocratic government to be succeed to stay in power by using the state apparatus and also by conducting mass killings.

Law enforcement officials are trying to complicate the situation by making statements like political leaders. We urge them to be refrained from political statements and also to discharge their duties with full professionalism.

We are calling upon the concerned authorities to immediately withdraw the curfew, also to stop the mass arrests and instead to arrest the offenders of Chhatra League, Jubo League and Awami League and to bring them to justice. We are also urging them to accept all the just demands of the students and to restore peaceful atmosphere in the country.”