Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 13th November 2023 sincerely thanking the leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and the fellow countrymen for making the blockade successful on 12th and 13th November and simultaneously protesting and condemning government’s torture, oppression and arrest drives.

I am sincerely thanking the leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and the fellow countrymen for making the blockade successful on 12th and 13th November which has been declared demanding the 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 the essentials within people’s capacity.

The ongoing movement is the movement which is being carried out to ensure the rights of all people. Many people with dissident voices have been abducted, murdered and subdued by the government for their bold roles. Many leaders and activists are being imprisoned in connection with various false cases. Police have arrested 8 Jamaat men from Dhaka city north and 39 others from various places of the country in last 24 hours.

Sirajganj district’s Raiganj Upazila Jamaat’s working committee member and Upazila Sramik Kollan President Dr. Kamrul Islam was arrested from his chamber. Police also detained Brahmanbaria district’s Bijoynagar Upazila Jamaat’s former secretary Dr. Ali Newaz. I am condemning all these incidents and demanding their immediate unconditional release.

Different video footages demonstrate, along with the police and terrorists are being seen carrying arms and lethal weapons. During a procession in Nandail Upazila of the Mymensingh district, former MP and Upazila Awami League’s president Major General Abdus Salam’s followers were seen to carry arms in broad day light. Awami goons have been caught red handed in Dhaka and Feni district while torching the vehicles. The hooligans of the ruling party are causing mayhem nationwide but the law enforcers are ignoring their malpractices. Rather, they are arresting the opposition men in connection with the cases of anarchy and violence.

While addressing a rally on 12th November, Sheikh Hasina has delivered some unlawful and provocative statement about Jamaat-e-Islami. Such an irrational statement from person like the Premier is unexpected.

The opposition are continuing movement to press their various demands. There is no congenial atmosphere in the country to hold an election. Many opposition leaders and activists are behind the bar. In this context, if election commission declares election schedule, they have to take the liabilities of the unwanted consequences.