Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 24th August 2023 protesting and condemning the unjustified arrests of Jamaat leaders and activists nationwide.

Police has been continuing arrest drives in different places of the country against the leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatrashibir for last couple of days. During the raids, the furniture and other accessories were vandalized. In some occasions, the family members faced inhuman and humiliating behavior. Even the old aged family member, women and kids were tortured mentally. Police on 23rd August arrested around 50 Jamaat activists and other pedestrians from Gulistan-Phulbaria and other partsof the capital. Police also arrested Moulovi Bazar municipality Ameer Hafez Tajul Islam, one from Bagerhat, 5 from Boalmari of Faridpur district, and 13 activists from different spots of Dhaka north city area. I am condemning such repression and torture of the incumbent autocratic government.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is a systematic and democratic political party. It is the constitutional right of all political parties to hold processions and rallies. No one has the right to deprive a party from such rights. But the government is not allowing the opposition parties to conduct the political activities. The countrymen have no confidence and trust upon the incumbent government. In fear of losing power, the authority has lodged false and concocted cases against the opposition leaders and activists, particularly of Jamaat-e-Islami. The consequence of suppression can never be better for anyone. The government has confiscated people’s rights. They have turned the nation into a police state. No government in the history could stay in power by arresting, lodging false cases, murdering and torturing people and the incumbent government will not be able to do so as well. The collapse of the government is inevitable.

I am urging the concerned authorities to stop harassment and unjust arrest drives and to release all detained leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatrashibir immediately.