Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General and former lawmaker Professor Golam Porwar has issued the following statement on 5 December 2020 on the eve of the ‘Autocracy Collapse Day’.

6 December is ‘Autocracy Collapse Day.’ On this day of 1990, the tyrannical government was ousted through massive resistance of the students and the general masses. All political parties came into a consensus to hold an election under a caretaker government as recommended by Jamaat-e-Islami to ensure the fairness and impartiality of the electoral process. Consequently, the power had been handed over to Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed. In 1991, a free and fair election took place under the caretaker regime. The election attained highest appreciation and acceptance globally. Later on, people’s all-out movement forced the then authority to include caretaker government system as a provision of the constitution. Similar credible election also held in 1996 and 2001 under caretaker government. As a result, a democratic atmosphere was created sustainably.

In 2011, the present authoritarian government in excuse of judicial verdict, cancelled the caretaker government system in a bid to linger its power. But during the trial activities, all amicus curiae placed their view in favor of the system. The expert committee which had been formed to bring amendments to the constitution, also opined for the continuation of the system. But denying and defying all those views, the government dismissed the system. Such ill-step actually paved the way for one party tyrannical rule. Democracy, human rights and rule of law have been snatched away. People’s voting rights and freedom of expression are seized now. The country has gone back to pre-90 situation. To some extent, current situation is worse than those days.

I am urging my fellow countrymen to raise voice to protest government’s tyrannical initiatives in order to restore democracy, voting rights and basic fundamental rights of the people.