Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 15th November 2023 protesting and condemning the unjust arrests of 55 Jamaat leaders and activists and ongoing torture and crackdown of the government.

“Ignoring the public demand of restoring caretaker government system, the government has chosen the path of filing false cases, attacks and torture, arrest drives and repression. The law enforcers are continuing raids in the houses of the opposition leaders even in odd times and disrupted public security and privacy severely. In last 24 hours, police arrested 55 Jamaat leaders and activists from various places of the country. While taking preparation for bringing processions in Badda, industrial area and Kafrul thana of the city, Jubo League and Chhatra League cadres attacked the demonstrators and caused injuries to 16 Jamaat leaders and activists.

Police conducted raid in the house of Tongi thana’s 49 number ward’s Majlish-e-Shura member Kamruzzaman Khan Mamun and 13 others and adjacent shops. Police arrested 5 Jamaat men from these spots. During this raid, furniture and other household items were vandalized. They also made discourteous behavior with the family members. As such women and kids of these families passed the night in worries. To conduct such raid in midnight and creating panic is unexpected. This kind of action clearly violates human rights and democratic norms. The government is continuing such crackdown nationwide to subdue the ongoing movement. I am condemning all these incidents of tortures and arrest drives.

Meanwhile, on last 12th November at 11 pm, some miscreants attacked a local Jubo League leader Jahidul Islam in a place near Shakhmara bridge of Sonarai union under Sundarganj Upazila of Gaibandha district. Victim Jahidul Islam died subsequently. Later, the authorities filed a case implicating Gaibandha district Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Professor Mazedur Rahman with the incident. I am condemning this ill-attempt as well.

I am urging the government to stop torture and repression and to release all detained leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami immediately.