A session of the Central Majlish-e-Shura of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was held with party’s Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman in the chair today. Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar hosted the session. Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Professor Mujibur Rahman, Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher and Maulana A.N.M Shamsul Islam and members of the central executive council and Central Majlish-e-Shura members were present on the occasion.
In his opening speech, Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman recalled the martyred leaders and said that they had been oppressed only because of their involvement with the Islamic movement. Eleven leaders have been taken unjustly from us. Five people have been hanged on death row in connection with some false accusations. Five died in jail and another leader died because of negligence and poor medical care. We could not attend the funeral prayers of our martyred leaders. Even, the houses of the martyred leaders were attacked. Their family members were arrested and taken to the police station and tortured. Many of them could not stay in their homes due to a frightening situation. Some members of the martyr's family have become the victims of enforced disappearances. Two of such victims have been released following the collapse of the Hasina government and they already described the inhuman torture inflicted on them. They were kept hidden in a type of gas chamber called Ayanaghar, where sunlight could not enter. They even did not spare to torture and disgrace our mothers and sisters as well.
Jamaat Ameer also said that millions of leaders and activists of opposition parties, particularly of Jamaat-e-Islami have been harassed and detained in connection with thousands of false cases. Countless people have gone missing. The actual number of such misdeeds is still unknown to the nation. Our workers were killed mercilessly in the name of crossfire. Every night and every day were filled with anxiety. All offices including our central office, city and district level offices were forcefully closed. Office accessories have been looted. No space was given to us anywhere. We have been treated cruelly.
He also said that like Hitler's gas chamber, Ayna Ghar have been built in our country. Not only Jamaat-e-Islami, but also the opposition BNP and religious scholars have been subjected to similar attacks. Thousands of religious personnel were arrested and imprisoned for years. On May 5, 2013, the oppressor regime had carried out a horrific massacre at Shapla Chattar of the capital. We were not allowed to go on the streets for 15 and a half years of misrule by the previous government. We could not even protest against the government's oppression and torture as they had imposed ban on holding processions and meetings. The fascist government organized three unacceptable farce elections. When crimes such as disappearance, murder, cases, attack, arrest, torture, looting, encroachment, rape cross the final limit, then Allah Almighty’s judgment descends on the ground.
Last July, students took to the streets to press home their just demands. Some ministers including the former prime minister tried to suppress the student movement with provocative speeches. People from children to ninety years of age also joined the student movement. The historical change of the country happened through the sacrifice of thousands of students. We remember those martyrs as because of their sacrifices, we are able to hold this Shura session in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. They have given a sigh of relief to the nation. May Allah Almighty give them dignity both in this world and the hereafter. May Allah grant martyrdom to those who sacrificed their lives in the movement. May Allah grant their families the grace to bear this grief, grant them patience. May Allah bless the injured so that they can gain quick recovery.
Jamaat Ameer also said that the previous government has carried out clear genocide due to its greed for power. The government has killed its citizens not only on the ground but also by firing from the air. This genocide in a free country is in no way acceptable. We demand the current government to arrest the murderers and bring them to justice. As a party we have been treated with hostility for 15 and a half year. Our registration has been revoked. At the last minute, the government got disoriented and banned us. We said we will not retaliate - that means we will not take the law into our own hands. But whoever commits the specific crime - he will be prosecuted and punished. The offenders of genocide must be prosecuted and the crimes committed in the last 15 and a half years must be tried.
He also said that, we have called upon our organization to file a case against the victims who will try to take refuge in the law. But we should keep a sharp eye so that no one is treated unfairly. No innocent person should be accused.
Jamaat Ameer said, the country belongs to us. A large number of people participated in the students' movement. All political parties, people of all professions have participated in this movement. Even the expatriate brothers also participated in the movement along with the countrymen. While protesting, they have been victimized. In one country, 57 people were arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. We demanded the government to settle this issue on priority basis. We thank the government for taking the initiative and we also thank the government of the country concerned for pardoning and releasing the agitators. We demand the government to rehabilitate them with dignity.
He also said that some rich people with ill-intentions of the country looted the people's wealth and took the money out of the country by looting the banks. This money should be brought back and the looters should be brought to justice. They are enemies of the nation, they are robbers. Today is the time to unite the divided nation. There should be a voice against injustice and untruth. We will guard together so that no one can foil the desired change of the nation. We must take an uncompromising stand for freedom. May Allah have mercy on Bangladesh. May Allah bless us to build a civilized and united nation.
The following resolution was adopted in today’s session of Central Majlish-e-Shura:
After 13 years, we are able to meet in the Shura session of the Central Majlis-e-Shura of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in Al-Falah Auditorium, a place enriched with the memories of our martyr leaders. During these 13 years, former Ameer Shaheed Professor Gholam Azam, Shaheed Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami, Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Abul Kalam Muhammad Yousuf, Maulana Abdus Subhan and Allama Delawar Hossain Sayedee, former Secretary General Shaheed Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid, former Assistant Secretary General Shaheed Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Shaheed Abdul Quader Mollah, former member of the Central Executive Council Shaheed Mir Quasem Ali. Former Nayeb-e- Ameer Professor AKM Nazir Ahmad and popular leader of Satkhira and former MP Maulana Abdul Khalek Mondol have passed away from the world after suffering the oppression of the cruel government. May Almighty Allah accept them all of them as martyrs. Ameen. ATM Azharul Islam, assistant secretary general of the organization, is still in jail in a false case.
Thousands of leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami, Islamic scholars, Islamic thinkers, leaders of various political parties, journalists and people from all levels of the country have been victims of imprisonment and oppression during the regime of the outgoing dictatorship. Central Majlish-e-Shura of Jamaat-e-Islami expects that Bangladesh will be established as a welfare state in exchange for their sacrifices.
Central Majlish-e-Shura opined that the anti-discrimination movement launched by the students of the country from July 1 in was peaceful and orderly. On July 14, the then Prime Minister, July 15 Bridges Minister, Freedom Fighter Minister's provocative speech killed 6 students across the country including Abu Sayeed in Rangpur. The murder incident of Abu Sayeed intensified the students’ protest.
The government imposed a curfew on the night of July 19 and ordered shoot-on-sight to suppress the students' peaceful protest. Following this order, the law enforcers opened fire and carried out massacres. Ignoring those bullets, students, teachers, parents, artists, journalists, writers, lawyers, doctors, engineers, and people from all walks of life came down on the streets and started demonstration against the government.
On August 4, a top leader of the Awami League called on the students to stop the anti-discrimination movement. As a result, massive killings took place across the country on that day. The Home Minister ordered the curfew to be stricter from the evening of August 4.
On August 5, the students and crowds descended on the streets of the capital from the morning. The former prime minister summoned the three chiefs of three armed forces and the chief of police to Ganobhaban and ordered to use force to quell the agitation. The patriotic army presented the mass movement of the students to her and advised her to resign considering the gravity of the situation. The then prime minister finally resigned and left the country in the face of the student movement. The country was freed from the dictator. The Central Majlish-e-Shura is expressing gratitude to Almighty Allah for this victory. The Shura is appealing to the interim government to give the status of national heroes to those who were killed in this anti-discrimination student movement. May Almighty Allah accept them as martyrs. The Shura prays for a speedy recovery to those who were injured, lost eyes, arms and legs and suffered paralysis. Central Majlish-e-Shura expresses deep condolences to all the martyrs and the affected families.
Central Majlish-e-Shura of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is of the opinion that the massacre which was carried out to suppress the movement will be marked as a scandalous chapter in the history of the world. No movement in the history of the world has seen so many casualties in such a short period of time. The Central Majlish-e-Shura is calling upon the country and nation to be freed from the culture of impunity by identifying the perpetrators of genocide through international investigation and providing exemplary trial to those who had committed crimes against humanity.
For the past 15 and a half years, the dictatorial government has filed thousands of false cases against opposition political parties including Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatrashibir. The government, ousted by popular anger, has brutally tortured scholars and Islamic thinkers. It has crippled the country economically. Corruption, bank robberies, money laundering have taken Bangladesh into a devastating state. The fascist government tried to consolidate power by factionalizing the judiciary and administration. The Central Majlish-e-Shura is appealing to the interim government to withdraw all false cases and bring back the smuggled money. It demands immediate release of imprisoned Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam. The Shura is appealing the countrymen to remain alert and maintain peace, order and stability in the country so that the conspirators cannot subvert the situation in the country.
Bangladesh is constitutionally a democratic country. Ultimately the elected public representatives will rule the state. The Central Majlish-e-Shura of Jamaat-e-Islami calls on the Interim Government to organize a free, fair, impartial and acceptable election as soon as possible by completing the necessary reforms of all constitutional institutions including democratic institutions within a reasonable period of time.
