Acting Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former lawmaker Professor Mujibur Rahman has issued the following statement on 25th December 2022 congratulating the countrymen for making 24th December’s nationwide mass processions successful and simultaneously urging to stop the undue activities of the police forces.
Jamaat-e-Islami and other opposition parties declared nationwide mass processions were held in most of the districts and cities. Thousands of people took part in these processions. I am appreciating the countrymen on behalf of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami for making the programs successful and also for their spontaneous participation. I am seeking the assistance of my fellow countrymen for implementing the upcoming programs as well.
We have been observing that people’s basic and democratic rights are being intervened by creating an obstruction to the pre-declared peaceful programs. On many occasions, police opened fire against the agitators. Police shot fire on a procession in Noakhali which left at least 20 activists critically injured. One injured has been transferred to Dhaka immediately for emergency treatment in his eyes. Another opposition activist was killed similarly in the Panchagarh district. Police also harassed people while returning after the procession. Police also carried out raids in different houses and arrested many Jamaat activists from different cities and towns. They vandalized the houses and furniture.
In some cases, the law enforcers created a panic situation as they found no male members during the raid. More than a hundred people became injured and another 3 hundred were arrested during these arrest drives.
The main obligation of the law enforcers is to secure the citizens. But instead of doing that, they are harassing the people. The constitution ensures guarantees to hold processions and rallies. But the police are frequently violating the spirit of the constitution by obstructing rallies and gatherings. We want to assert that, Jamaat-e-Islami is an organization of millions of people. But the police are not allowing Jamaat supporters and activists to exercise their political rights. They are instigating people and causing barriers that may pave the way for a tense situation.
Jamaat-e-Islami believes in peace, discipline, and systematic politics. Jamaat wants to implement its programs peacefully. But the police are gradually taking a stance against the people. Even they are not hesitant to sue the deceased persons in connection with the false and politically motivated case. Such false attempt is destroying the morality, professionalism, and trustworthiness of the law enforcers. If such malpractices continue, peace and discipline will be disrupted. We are urging law enforcers to play their duties professionally and fairly. As they belong to the state, I am calling them to refrain from party loyalty and not to harass the people.
