Acting Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 5th November, 2023 protesting and condemning the unjust arrests of BNP’s Vice-chairman Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and Barrister Shahjahan Omar (Bir Uttam) and Mujib Nagar Upazila Jamaat Ameer Maulana Khan Jahan Ali.

"The government has unjustifiably arrested BNP's Vice-chairman, former Home Minister and former Airforce chief Air Vice Martial (rtd.), Barrister Shahjahan Omar and Mujib Nagar Upazila Ameer Maulana Khan Jahan Ali in a false case of conspiracy. We are condemning these unlawful arrest incidents.

While addressing a public gathering in Arambagh of the capital on 4th November, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, whoever will carry arson, must be resisted. If necessary, they will be thrown to the fire. The hands are being used to carry arson, those to be burnt. Only then, they will realize." We want ti say that, she cannot make such provocative remarks while holding the office of the Premier. Her address will push towards more anarchy and violence. By making such remark, she violated the human rights and the constitution. The countrymen are fully shocked at her speech. We are condemning her provocative and irresponsible comments.

The government has been continuing nationwide arrest drives and plotting conspiracy to come back to power by holding a farcical election. The government has become afraid of the mass movement. The law enforcement agencies are opening fire against the people as per the directives of the government. But the government will not be able to subdue the ongoing movement by such repression and crackdown.

The countrymen are totally disturbed due to the authoritarian rule of the government. The nation has been transformed into a subservient structure. Freedom of expression and voting rights have been seized away. Human rights are rapidly being violated. There is no good governance. Educational structure and financial systems have been destroyed.

Huge amount of money has been laundered. No nation can run in such a way. Under the circumstances, the people have come to the street to extend solidarity with the opposition parties and their programs including ongoing blockade. They do not fear the intimidation of the government anymore. Watching the public support, the government has become more reckless. They have intensified their arrest drives. 83 Jamaat and Chhatrashibir activists have been arrested in last 24 hours. The whole nation has been turned into a giant prison. I am condemning all these arrest drives and demanding immediate release of all political detainees.

I am urging the leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and the countrymen to observe blockade in full swing demanding the resignation of the government, immediate restoration of the caretaker government system, release of Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, all political detainees and religious scholars and also for curing the price hike of the essentials. I am also thanking the countrymen for observing first day of the two-day long blockade by spontaneously and actively participating in these events.