Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 22nd August 2023 protesting the arrest of Jamaat leaders and activists from various places of the country and simultaneously condemning the attack and repression of the ruling party cadres nationwide.

Following the death of world-renowned speaker of the Quran Allama Delwar Hossain Sayedee, police has carried out raid in various places of the country. The law enforcers arrested many Jamaat leaders and activists and vandalized their in-house furniture. Even they tried to threat the women and kids of their families. Police continued raid throughout the night on 22nd August in Sirajganj. Police lodged a case and arrested Sirajganj district’s Bhuiyagati Darul Ulum Kawmi Madrasa’s Muhtamim Maulana Mufti Masum Billah and Majhuria village’s resident Maulana Mehdi as they prayed seeking salvation for Maulana Sayedee.

Because of sharing a Facebook status on Allama Sayedee, a local schoolteacher of Kushtia district was inhumanly harassed and tortured by local Upazila chairman and Awami League leader. Police also arrested Satkhira district’s Kaliganj Upazila secretary Professor Mosharraf Hossain Chowdhury on 21st August. Police also arrested several Jamaat activists from various Upazila of Comilla district. I am vehemently protesting and condemning the arrest drives, tortures, repression and fascist activities of the government.

Right now, the movement in Bangladesh for restoring democracy and citizen’s rights are being intensified. The government also understood that their time is over. This is why, they are arresting the opposition leaders and activists, particularly of Jamaat-e-Islami indiscriminately. People are not safe under the current tyrannical regime. The government do not want to subdue the movement by conducting repression and torture. But pro-people movement could not be foiled by such repression and the incumbent autocratic regime will not be able to stay in office as well.

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