Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former lawmaker Professor Mujibur Rahman has issued the following statement on 25 December 2018 protesting and condemning the unjustified arrest of 20 party alliance’s candidate for Bagerhat-4 constituency Principal Abdul Alim along with 50 leaders and activists.
“The government is unlawfully arresting the leaders and activists of the opposition candidates nationwide as they are not interested to hold a free, fair, credible and inclusive election. I am vehemently condemning the latest move as the authority arrested 20 party alliance’s candidate for Bagerhat-4 constituency Principal Abdul Alim and many other opposition and independent candidates and their supporters.
The law enforcement agencies have arrested 20 party alliance’s candidate for Bagerhat-4 constituency Principal Abdul Alim along with 50 leaders and activists. Prior to the arrest, 30 activists became injured. Police also arrested Mizanur Rahman, the election campaign coordinator of Thakurgaon-2 constituency’s opposition alliance’s candidate Maulana Abdul Hakim. Mr. Mizanur Rahman is also the vice chairman of Rani Shongkoil Upazila. Police also arrested Advocate Md. Shahjahan and his assistant Advocate Badiul Alam Sujon, who have been working so far as the campaign coordinator for Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, 20 party alliance’s candidate for Comilla-11 constituency.
Several days back, police arrested former lawmaker and 20 party alliance’s candidate for Satkhira-4 constituency Gazi Nazrul Islam. Today his wife and daughter went to district jail meet him. But the authority also detained them which is genuinely an inhuman and unlawful move.
On 24 December, the ruling party goons and the law enforcers have attacked at least 10 MP candidates and wounded 226 more. How the people would go to the poll center to cast their votes amid such an adverse situation? The ruling party men are threatening the mass people all over the country not to go to the poll centers. They are also pushing the opposition activists to leave their area. The government and its subservient election commission are jointly working to hold another farcical election. They are not inclined to hold a fair election. They have used the law enforcement agencies like their party affiliated platforms and made them fully incapable and invalid.
After the deployment of the armed forces on 24 December, the situation have been deteriorated more. Conspiracy has began to invalidate the armed forces as well. I hope and believe that in cooperation with the people, these brave soldiers will foil all the evil conspiracies. There is no way to get rid of prevailing crisis without launching a mass resistance.
I am calling upon the concerned authorities to release all the detained leaders and activists of opposition parties including 20 party alliance’s candidate for Bagerhat-4 constituency Principal Abdul Alim and wife and daughter of Gazi Nazrul Islam immediately.”
