Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 8th November, 2023 protesting and condemning police's obstructions and arrest drives and simultaneously urging to continue blockade on 9th November peacefully.

"The opposition parties are continuing movement demanding resignation of the government, release of Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and other political detainees, withdrawal of false cases and for bringing the prices of all essentials within people's capacity. The government has kept many opposition leaders and activists behind the bar in connection with false cases. They are also plotting conspiracies to foil the ongoing movement for restoring democratic and voting rights. United Nations and all the international human rights organisations have expressed concern over the ongoing arrest drives. The government is also hatching conspiracy to hold another farcical election with its subservient opposition parties by avoiding all the mainstream political parties. But the countrymen will not allow the government to make such farce in the name of democracy.

The law enforcement agency members and the ruling party cadres have attacked in various places to foil the opposition declared third phase of blockade. They are vandalising vehicles, making arson and anarchy and shift the blame upon the opposition parties. The government has adopted repressive and dominating policy which is a severe threat for the nation and democracy. Police arrested Noakhali district Jamaat secretary Maulana Nizam Uddin Faruq and Sylhet city's 10 number ward secretary Minar Ahmed unjustly. In last 48 hours, police have arrested 131 Jamaat leaders and activists from various places of the country. Police hurled bullet and tear shell against the demonstrators in Bogra which left 10 people injured. Nationwide anarchy has been created. I am condemning the torture, repression and repressive policies of the government and demanding immediate release of all the detainees.

I am urging the government to stepdown immediately and to handover power to the caretaker government to pave the way for holding a free, fair and credible election. I am also calling upon the countrymen and Jamaat leaders and activists to make the nationwide blockade on 9th November successful for the greater interest of the nation.

Kushtia district's Jamaat office vandalized

In another statement, Maulana ATM Masum said, the law enforcers carried a raid into Kushtia district Jamaat office and arrested district Jamaat assistant secretary Khairul Islam Robin and office assistant Abdur Rab.

During the raid, precious accessories and items have been vandalized. They also confiscated one computer, printer, sound system, projector, files, Quran, Hadith and Islamic literature book, chair and tables. The ongoing movement for restoring caretaker government system can never be subdued by such repression. I am protesting and condemning the torture and repression of the government and also to release Khairul Islam Robin and Abdur Rab immediately.