Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 17th May 2022 protesting and condemning the unjust arrest of hundreds of Jamaat leaders and activists from different places across the country including 63 from Chittagong city, 2 from Mymensingh, 2 from Sylhet city and one from Jamalpur.

Police have arrested 63 Jamaat activists from Chittagong city including the city’s Kotowali thana Ameer A K M Faridul Alam, Mymensingh city secretary Professor Shahidullah Kaisar, and Assistant Secretary Anwar Hossain Sujon, 2 from Sylhet city ad one from Jamalpur city. Earlier, another 6 activists were arrested from Rajshahi city. Thus, in the last 24 hours, more than a hundred leaders and activists have been arrested from different places in the country. We are vehemently protesting and condemning these incidents.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is a systematic and democratic political party. Jamaat has been playing a bold role to establish the rights of the people. Without any reason, police are arresting Jamaat men from social events like post-Eid reunion and other programs, which contradicts the political courtesy. It is the right of the political parties to hold rallies and processions. The constitution does not allow anyone to thwart those rights. As a part of the constitutionally secured rights, Jamaat has organized nationwide peaceful demonstrations today. But police obstructed the programs in various places. We are condemning police’s such initiatives.

I am urging the concerned authorities to release all detained leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami immediately.