Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organized a press meet to brief the party views in the latest context as DMP did not allow Dhaka south and north city Jamaat to hold predeclared rally in Suhrawardi Udyan of the capital on 4th August. Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher addressed the press meet. Jamaat’s media and publicity secretary and party’s central executive committee member Matiur Rahman Akanda hosted the press conference. Among others, Jamaat’s central executive committee member and Dhaka south city Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul, central working committee member and Dhaka north city’s Acting Ameer Abdur Rahman Musa, central Majlish-e-Shura member and Dhaka north city’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Engineer Golam Mostofa, central Majlish-e-Shura member and Dhaka south city’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Advocate Dr. Helal Uddin, Dhaka south city’s assistant secretary Delwar Hossain, working committee member Engineer Sheikh Al Amin, south city’s majlish-e-Shura member and media secretary Ashraful Alam Emon were present on the occasion. Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher’s address to the nation is given below:

Dear journalists,
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah.
As you all know that, today 4th August was set to held rally in Suhrawardi Udyan of the capital under the arrangement of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka south and north city. The rally was declared to press home the demand of restoring caretaker government system, release of all detained leaders and activists including Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and also for curbing the price hike of the essentials. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman made the declaration from a press meet on last 24th July. Initially, the rally was scheduled to held on 1st August in the north gate premise of national mosque Baitul Mukarram. All necessary preparations have been taken accordingly. Regarding the rally, a mail was sent to the DMP on 25th July morning and on the same day at 4.30 in the afternoon, a delegation of Supreme Court went to the DMP office and submitted a formal letter seeking their assistance.

Dear journalists,
As 1st August was working day and police denied cooperating to hold rally on that day so the date was deferred to 4th of August in Suhrawardi Udyan of the capital. Letter was given to the DMP accordingly. But last afternoon, DMP commissioner informed journalists that they have not given permission to Jamaat-e-Islami to hold rally in Suhrawardi Udyan on Friday.

To hold rallies and processions is a constitutional right. Article 37 of the constitution gave such guarantee. The administration is obliged to ensure the exercise such constitutional rights. But the administration regrettably seized our rights away. We vehemently condemning such decision. Such attitude is undemocratic, unjust and immoral. They are committing injustice to us repeatedly. The constitution claims that all citizens are equal to the law. But the ruling party is holding rallies even without any permission, but we are supposed to take such permission. But why? Why this double-standard policy?

Fellow journalists,
According to the law, Jamaat should get the chance to hold rallies. But instead of ensuring that right, Jamaat leaders and activists are being harassed nationwide. In last one week, over 8 hundred Jamaat men have been arrested. Police are carrying raid into the house of Jamaat leaders and vandalized the furniture and other accessories. In some occasions, they are harassing the female members of the family. Such activities of the law enforcers are completely illegal and sheer violation of human rights.

Dear journalists,
12th parliamentary election is ahead. The whole nation is united in line with the demand of restoring the caretaker government system in order to hold a free, fair and credible election. But paying no heed to such demand, the government is mulling to hold another unilateral election by continuing repression, oppression, torture, arrest drive and harassment against the opposition parties. The ruling party wants to back to the office by holding another farcical election like 2014 and 2018. But the countrymen will not accept such conspiracy this time.

Dear journalists,
We have completed all preparations to hold rally today. We have been saying repeatedly that we want to hold a peaceful rally. Jamaat-e-Islami do not believe in violence and anarchy. But instead of providing assistance, the administration has created an anarchic and volatile situation. So, we have postponed our rally today in Suhrawardi Udyan of the capital. Protesting such non-cooperation of the administration, we are declaring peaceful demonstrations in all divisional cities on 6th August. We are seeking assistance of the administration and the fellow countrymen to make these demonstrations successful. We were on the street to press home the demand of the people and will be there insha Allah.

We again urging the administration to stop their undemocratic and unconstitutional activities. We are also calling upon the law enforcers not to play role in favor of any party rather for the sake of the people and the country.

Thank you all for having patience.

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