Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 10th November 2023 protesting and condemning ongoing repression and arrest drives of the government.

“The anti-government movement is continuing demanding resignation of the government, restoration of the caretaker government system, immediate release of Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and all other detainees, withdrawal of false cases and also for bringing the prices of the essentials within people’s capacity. This movement and ongoing blockade will continue until democracy and fundamental human rights are secured.

He said, this government has no mandate and they become desperate to remain in power by any means. Jamaat and other opposition leaders and activists are being arrested and imprisoned in connection with the false political cases. Police has arrested 41 Jamaat leaders and activists from various places of the country including Laksham Upazila Ameer Hafez Zahirul Islam. Today on 10th November, Natore district’s Singra Upazila’s Chatar Dighi union Jamaat secretary Hafez Abdur Razzaq was picked up by some miscreants while he was returning home after saying the Juma prayer. The miscreants broke his legs and left him by the side of the road as critically injured. Similar secret attacks are being carried out in last couple of days in various places of the country. Subsequently several opposition leaders became murdered or critically injured. An anarchic situation has been created across the country. The government has engaged the police forces to subdue the ongoing movement. I am protesting and condemning all these repressions, tortures and arrest drives and calling upon the countrymen to form resistance against these terrorists.

I am urging the government to stop oppression and torture at once and to release all the detained leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatrashibir immediately. Besides, I am calling upon the Jamaat’s manpower and the fellow countrymen to continue the blockade program peacefully.”