Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General and former lawmaker Professor Mia Golam Porwar has issued the following statement on 15 May 2021 protesting and condemning the unjustified arrest of Jamaat’s central Majlish-e-Shura member, Chittagong city Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and former member of the Parliament Shahjahan Chowdhury.

“Police has unjustifiably arrested Chittagong city Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameerformer member of the Parliament and popular leader Shahjahan Chowdhury. There was no warrant of arrest against him. He secured bail from all the politically motivated cases which had been filed against him. During the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, people are usually exchanging greetings with the friends and family members. A festive environment prevails in every Muslim house. Such exchanging of greetings strengthens the bondages between the Muslims. It is a part of Muslim culture as well. But police have arrested pro-people leader Shahjahan Chodhury amid such an atmosphere. This arrest incident exposes government’s malign attempt to destroy Islamic heritage and culture. I am vehemently condemning this arrest incident.

Police in the holy month of Ramadan and even in the day of Eid-ul-Fitr is conducting their arrest drives and implementing its plot to destroy Islamic culture. Such arrest drives and crackdown will not bring positive result for any section. The law enforcement agencies are being used as a tool to oppress the people instead of playing their professional duties. I am urging the concerned authorities to release all the detained leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami including Shahjahan Chowdhury immediately.

In another statement, Jamaat-e-Islami’sNayeb-e-Ameer and former lawmaker Maulana ANM Shamsul Islam said, since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, police have been arresting Jamaat leaders and activists and the general Muslim devotees and harassing them inhumanly. By arresting Shahjahan Chowdhury during the Eid atmosphere, the government proves that the people have no right to observe their rituals. I am condemning the arrest drives and demanding immediate release of all the detained leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami including Shahjahan Chowdhury immediately.