Acting Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 22nd January 2023 protesting and condemning the unjust arrest of 33 Jamaat leaders and activists from Dinajpur district.

Police have arrested 30 Jamaat activists from Chirir Bandar Upazila and 3 others from Ranir Bandar Upazila on their way back home after taking part in a peaceful procession today. I am vehemently condemning the arrest drive.

The government is not allowing any party to hold political activities. They are arresting thousands of Jamaat leaders and activists and harassing them severely. Despite such repression, Jamaat is continuing its regular political activities systematically. We want to assert that Jamaat-e-Islami is a systematic and democratic political party. The constitution of the country allows all parties to operate their political activities. Nobody has the right to deprive a party of exercising these rights. People’s just movement could never be subdued in the past by arresting political leaders. The incumbent government will not be able to do so as well.

I am urging the countrymen to raise their voices against this tyrannical government. Besides, I am calling upon the concerned authorities to stop repression and also to release all the detained leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Chhatrashibir immediately.”