Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Ameer and former MP Professor Mujibur Rahman addressed a Press Conference on 15th December protesting the ill efforts of involving Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahamn with militancy, simultaneously demanding the withdrawal of false cases and his immediate release.
Central Media and Publicity Secretary and Jamaat’s central executive committee member Matiur Rahman Akanda hosted the conference. Among others, Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum, Assistant Secretary General and former MP Hamidur Rahman Azad, Dhaka south city’s Ameer and party’s central executive committee member Nurul Islam Bulbul and Dhaka north city Ameer and central executive committee member Salim Uddin were present on the occasion.
In his address, Professor Mujibur Rahman said, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman was arrested from his house at 1 am on 13th December. On the following day, he was shown arrested in connection with a case of militancy and he was placed on a 7-day remand. The countrymen have protested against this unjust move of the government and brought out rallies. Different political parties and social organizations also condemned the incident. We are vehemently condemning such conspiracies of the government.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is a democratic and systematic political party. Since its inception, Jamaat has played an active role in all democratic and anti-tyranny movements and also in securing people’s rights. Jamaat also played a historic role in the movement from 1991 to 1996 for attaining the demand of a caretaker government, an idea that is a brainchild of the party. Jamaat took part in all credible elections. According to the party constitution, Jamaat wants to change the government in a systematic and democratic way. Section 3 of Jamaat’s constitution has set ‘systematic and democratic policies’ as the party’s aims and vision. Point four of the party’s permanent strategies also mentioned the issue of ‘systematic and democratic policies’. Jamaat has no relation with any type of arbitrary steps or extremism, terrorism, and anarchy. Rather, Jamaat-e-Islami was always vocal against all these malpractices.
Jamaat-e-Islami has played a key role against militancy during the 4 party alliance government’s tenure. Many of Jamaat’s leaders and activists also became the victims of terrorism and militancy for their anti-militancy role. Jamaat leader and former PP of Jhalkathi district Haidar Ali was killed in a bomb explosion. Jamaat leader, Khulna metropolitan union’s president, and Khulna Press Club’s former vice president Sheikh Belal Uddin was assassinated for his write-ups against militancy. But even after so many years, Jamaat-e-Islami is now being branded with militancy which is regrettable and nothing but exposure of the government’s vindictive policies.
Jamaat-e-Islami is an Islamic and democratic party. Islam does not support militancy, extremism, and terrorism. Mainstream Islamic movements across the globe are highly vocal against militancy and extremism. Islamic parties in Egypt, Tunisia, Malaysia, and other parts of the world have played a stern role against terrorism and militancy.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in a similar approach is also taking a strong position against extremism and implementing pro-people programs properly. Former Jamaat Ameer Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami wrote a book titled ‘Islam and Terrorism’ and directed the party’s manpower to take a bold position against terrorism and militancy.
Allegations of nexus between Jamaat-e-Islami and militancy had been brought up earlier but it was not proven. Jamaat had no connection with militancy and even now it is absolutely absurd. Jamaat Ameer has been arrested at such a time when he just declared to launch a simultaneous movement to fulfill 10-point demands for restoring democracy and securing civilian rights. The incumbent immoral government has arrested him to thwart the ongoing movement and lodged a false case of militancy against him. We want to assert that, the current movement will never be subdued by continuing arrest drives, persecution, torture, and oppression. The hatred conspiracy against Jamaat-e-Islami will never be successful.
Conspiracies have been made against Jamaat-e-Islami for many years. Jamaat’s top 5 leaders have been executed to death. Noted religious scholar and Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Allama Delawar Hossain Sayedee has been sentenced to life term imprisonment. Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam has been kept behind the bar with the death penalty. Former Jamaat Ameer Professor Ghulam Azam and 3 other top leaders had died inside the prison.
Hundreds of thousands of Jamaat and Shibir activists have been detained in this tenure. Many of them have been made crippled. Some have become the victims of enforced disappearance. Despite so many tortures, Jamaat leaders and activists did not surrender before justice and will not do that in the upcoming days Insha Allah. We firmly believe that people’s support for Jamaat-e-Islami will be increased. Jamaat will become the most trustworthy organization by the will of Allah.
Addressing the government, Jamaat’s Acting Ameer said, Jamaat-e-Islami will never be restrained by hatching conspiracy by implicating it with militancy. So, ignoring the path of repression, we are urging the government:
1. To cancel the case of militancy in which Jamaat Ameer has shown arrested and to release him immediately
2. Jamaat’s declared 10-point demands including establishing a caretaker government system must be fulfilled
3. Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana ANM Shamsul Islam, Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, and other detained leaders and activists must be released immediately.
I am calling upon my fellow countrymen to initiate a massive movement to attain 10-point demands for ensuring the release of Jamaat Ameer and also for restoring democracy and securing citizens’ rights.