In a Jamaat-e-Islami organized press meet on 2nd August, party’s Acting Ameer and former lawmaker Professor Mujibur Rahman delivered an address emphasizing on restoring democracy and the establishing caretaker government system. Central executive committee member and Jamaat's central publicity secretary Advocate Matiur Rahman Akanda hosted the event. Among others, Jamaat's Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim, central executive committee member and Dhaka south city Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul and Dhaka North city's Acting Ameer and central working committee Abdur Rahman Musa were present on the occasion. Professor Mujibur Rahman's address to the nation is given below:

Dear fellow journalists,
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah.
We are here in front of you to present our view amid the ongoing conflicting situation, created by the government. As you all know, the government is not allowing any opposition parties to hold processions and rallies. The opposition is declaring a peaceful program and subsequently the government is creating a conflicting situation by declaring their programs on the same day. It is the obligation of the government to maintain peaceful situation and also to preserve and protect public lives and properties. But instead of doing so, the government has created an anarchic situation just to attain its ill-political interest. Main purpose of the government is to keep the opposition out of the electoral process and to arrange another farcical election like 2014 and 2018. They are not allowing Jamaat-e-Islami to hold programs from the same perspective. But they should know it clearly that the people will not accept any more farcical election this time.

Dear journalists,
The constitution is the highest law of this country. The state is operating and functioning as per the constitution. Whatever the constitution guarantees to preserve and protect citizen's rights, the administration is bound to act accordingly. The constitution of Bangladesh guarantees freedom of movement, freedom to hold assembly, freedom of forming organization, religious freedom and freedom of expression and speech. If any obstruction is made in availing such constitutional rights, then the judiciary is the last option to get remedy.

Jamaat-e-Islami is a political party which had regular representation in the parliament. Its parliamentary activities and the overwhelming victory in the local government election proved that Jamaat is the third largest political party of the country. Being failed to tackle Jamaat-e-Islami politically, representatives of several unregistered parties filed a writ challenging the registration of this party under the backing of the government in order to keep the party out of the election process. On 1st August of 2013, the High Court stated in a dissenting verdict that the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami was not given in a proper way. Being aggrieved over the verdict, Jamaat-e-Islami filed an appeal against the verdict claimed that the high court verdict violated 38, 39 and 41 article of the constitution. Jamaat in its appeal further added that, the high court verdict is contradictory to the basic structure of the constitution. Jamaat-e-Islami opined that, the apex court in its final verdict will assure justice upholding the spirit of the constitution and we are optimistic that Jamaat will be able to overcome its registration related complications.

Fellow journalists,
You have observed that, while the registration case is still pending in the apex court but still government backed personalities are making confusing remarks frequently. Ignoring the judiciary, constitution and existing system, they are bringing the subjudice issues in the public domain and causing confusion among the people. Actually, the registration issue is completely under the jurisdiction of the apex court and they are obliged to settle the issue. We always say that there is no scope to pass any comment in regard to a subjudice matter. But unfortunately, even the law enforcers are making provocative comment. Some over enthusiastic officials claimed that as Jamaat has no registration so the party has no right to conduct politics. Such remarks clearly contradict the constitution. We are urging the concerned to give up such illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic discussion immediately.
Friendly journalists,

Jamaat-e-Islami is a systematic and democratic political party. Jamaat is always used to implement programs peacefully. Jamaat right to do politics is guaranteed by the constitution. No one has the right to snatch this right away. The highest law of the country has given Jamaat-e-Islami to exercise this right. But such constitutional rights of Jamaat-e-Islami are being denied frequently.

In last 15 years, the government has made all out efforts to eliminate Jamaat-e-Islami. Based on false witness and testimonies, they have executed the top leaders of the organization. Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Maulana ANM Shamsul Islam, Secretary General and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, Dhaka north city Ameer Muhammad Selim Uddin and former MP Shahjahan Chowdhury have been kept behind for the years. Although, they have attained bail but the government do not let them free. By denying their release, the government is violating basic human rights and committing contempt of court repeatedly. Even they are being shown arrested in such a case which have been filed while they are already inside the prison.

Dear journalists,
According to the constitution, there is no scope to create obstruction to the political programs including rallies and processions on the basis of registration. Non-registered parties are frequently holding rallies and they are entitled to implement such programs as well. But Jamaat’s plea to hold rallies are denied frequently. This is a sheer injustice against Jamaat-e-Islami. The law enforcers also demonstrated a hostile attitude against Jamaat-e-Islami. Law should be equal for all and Jamaat must be allowed to hold rallies and processions. But instead of just attitude, Jamaat activists are being harassed nationwide. In last one week, more than 7 hundred Jamaat leaders and activists have been arrested. Police is carrying raid to the houses of Jamaat men and ransacked and vandalized the furniture. Even in some occasions, they are harassing the women and in absence of the male members, their wives and kids are being arrested. Such activities of the law enforcers are a clear violation of law and human rights. It should be kept in mind that; the law enforcers are the servant of the people. They should not play role in favor of any party, rather should play a fair role. Otherwise, rule of law will be hampered and the anarchic situation will be deteriorated more.

Dear journalists,
12th national election is going to be held shortly. The entire nation is united to press home their demands of restoring a caretaker government system in order to hold a free, fair and credible election. But paying no heed to the public demand, the government is mulling to hold another farcical election. As a part of their conspiracy, they are trying to convict the opposition leaders in a bid to make them ineligible for the upcoming election. To set aside the case of the opposition leaders, testimonies are being taken till 9 at night. The government backed people even the leaders of Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee are often stating in a way as if they are the main authority to scrap the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami. These actions proved that, as a part of the conspiracies, the government is creating severe crisis for Jamaat-e-Islami in order to make the situation more critical and conflicting.

From this press meet, we would like to call upon the countrymen to launch a massive movement ignoring all conspiracies in order to restore democracy and also for holding a free, fair, credible and participatory election under a caretaker government. To fulfil the demand, I am urging the countrymen to take part in Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka city’s pre-declared mass rally peacefully on 4th August. We seek the assistance of the countrymen and the law enforcers to make the programs successful.

I am concluding my speech by thanking you all.

Allah Hafez
Bangladesh Zindabad
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Zindabad.