Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former lawmaker Professor Mia Ghulam Parwar has issued the following statement on 25 November 2018 protesting and condemning the unjustified arrest of Sylhet city Jamaat Secretary Maulana Sohel Ahmad, Meherpur district Jamaat Secretary and Sadar Upazila’s Vice-Chairman Maulana Mahbub-ul-Alam, Meherpur Sadar Upazila Ameer Dr. Jamal Uddin, Jhinaidah district Jamaat’s Baitulmal Secretary Master Md. Alauddin and Legal Aid Secretary Maulana Mafizul Haq, Jhinaidah city Jamaat’s member Advocate Shafiul Alam and Harinakundu municipality Jamaat member Md. Badar Uddin.

“As the incumbent government and its subservient election commission are not interested to hold a free, fair and credible election and therefore, they are continuing their arrest drives against the opposition parties, particularly against Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatrashibir in various places including Sylhet, Meherpur and Jhinaidah. They are destroying the election atmosphere. I am condemning such biased role of the government and its subservient election commission.

In one side, the election commission is saying that no one can be arrested without arrest warrant. But police are arresting opposition activists relentlessly without any such warrant. On last 24^th November, chief election commissioner K M Nurul Huda further stated that no one is arrested without the instruction of the election commission. By such comment, he has taken the liabilities of all the arrest incidents, which had been taken place since the declaration of the election schedule. If the election commission is violating the electoral codes and relevant laws, how a level playing filed will be ensured? The remarks of the CEC indicate that he is echoing with the falsehood of the government. His contradictory role is creating fear among the people about the upcoming election. If the situation continues, this commission will not be able to hold a fair and credible election. I am calling upon the countrymen to raise voice against such biased role of the government and the election commission.  

I am urging the concerned authorities to stop arrest drives and to release all the detained leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatrashibir for the sake of a free, fair and credible election.