Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has issued the following statement on 12 November 2018 protesting and condemning the unjustified arrest of Jamaat’s central working committee member and Dhaka city South unit’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Manjurul Islam Bhuiyan, Motijheel thana Ameer Kamal Hossen and 11 other party activists on last 11 November and similar unjust arrest of Meherpur district Jamaat Ameer Maulana Tajuddin Khan on 12 November.

“Police have arrested Jamaat’s central working committee member and Dhaka city South unit’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Manjurul Islam Bhuiyan, Motijheel thana Ameer Kamal Hossen and 11 other party activists and Meherpur district Jamaat Ameer Maulana Tajuddin Khan just to harass them politically. I am vehemently protesting and condemning the incidents.

The continuous arrests of Jamaat-Shibir leaders and activists from various parts of the country proved that, no congenial atmosphere has been created yet to hold a free, fair, credible and inclusive election. Though Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the opposition quarters to take part in election, but no favorable situation is visible so far. The government should ensure a level playing field for all parties and alliances for the sake of a credible election. But instead of doing so, the government is filing false cases against the opposition leaders and activists and harassing them ceaselessly. In this backdrop, a farcical election will not attain credibility and acceptance neither in home nor in abroad. Its consequence would be disastrous as well.

Under the circumstances, I am urging the concerned authorities to stop their arrest drive for the sake of a free, fair, credible and inclusive election and to release the leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatrashibir and other opposition parties including Dhaka city Jamaat leader Mr. Manjurul Islam Bhuiyan immediately.”