Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 2nd August, 2024 strongly condemning and denouncing the allegations, for which Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and 'Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir' have been banned.
The constitution is the highest legal statute of Bangladesh. The Constitution gives every citizen the due right to assemble and organize. No one has the authority to take away these rights. The allegations, for which the government has banned 'Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami' and 'Bangladesh Islami Chhatrshibir' are false and politically motivated. This initiative of the government is unconstitutional, undemocratic and illegal.
Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which the government has referred to define its decision and whatever they said subsequently are far away from truth. "Since the government has enough evidence that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliated organization Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir were involved directly and through incitement in the recent massacres, destructive activities and terrorist activities," and in this regard whatever the government has tried to say further is false.
Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatrashibir have hundreds of statements, press releases, video footage of speeches that have been circulated, published and telecasted in the media. By examining those contents, it will be clear that Jamaat and Chhatradhibir did not make any kind of provocative speech. Allegations of destructive activities, killings, terrorist activities described by the government are blatant lies. In fact, the government itself has incited the Chhatra League to attack the agitating students by making provocative and aggressive statements. There are hundreds of proofs of these aggressive and provocative statements of the ministers and the ruling party leaders which are available in media.
The countrymen know that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a sarcastic comment by calling the protesting students 'grandchildren of Rajakar' while addressing a press conference held at Ganabhaban on last 14th July. General Secretary of Awami League and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said in a press conference held at Awami League's Dhanmondi office on 15th July that "Chatra League is enough to tackle the self-confessed Razakars." Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmood and Law Minister Anisul Haque heated up the peaceful atmosphere by taunting students and their parents by delivering derogatory comments against them.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and some members of her cabinet made provocative and offensive statements targeting the protesting students, so the Chhatra League and the Awami terrorists armed with various weapons, including firearms, hockey sticks, daggers, ramadas, iron rods, attacked the protesting students. At least 5 youths were seen firing pistols in Dhaka University campus (Prothom-alo: 16/7/2024). Chittagong Shechashebok League leader Md Delwar attacked the agitating students with firearms under the leadership of Nurul Azim Roni (Manab Zamin: 17/7/2024). Hasan, the former leader of Dhaka College Chhatra League, was seen attacking with a pistol. His home district is Gopalganj (Jugantar: 17/7/2024).
Many newspapers and TV channels have broadcast pictures of Chhatra League and other Awami terrorists attacking the protesting students with firearms. The terrorists beat many students and trampled them to the ground. Chhatra League terrorists even attacked injured students who were undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
After the agitating students were attacked, they sought the help of parents and teachers. People from all walks of life responded to the call of the affected students. The government ordered the law enforcers to suppress the protesters and consequently mass killings were committed by the party cadres and various forces of the state. Teachers, parents, poets and writers, actors and actresses, artists, prominent citizens, journalists and other professions are continuously protesting against the mass killings of the government.
The government has banned Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir in connection with some false allegations in order to get rid of the responsibility of the massacre and also to divert public attention. People are rejecting this false and politically motivated decision of the government.
Crores of people are with Jamaat-e-Islami. This illegal decision of the government has been taken to serve its political vengeance and it has brought the Jamaat closer to the people.
We reject the politically motivated activities and decisions of the government.”
