Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General, and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar, issued a statement on February 17, urging to organize nationwide protest rally and procession scheduled for February 18 successfully demanding immediate release of the oppressed public leader, and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Assistant Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam.

In the statement, he said, "Tomorrow, February 18, peaceful protest rallies and processions will be held in Dhaka and all major cities and districts across the country, demanding the immediate release of Mr. ATM Azharul Islam. At 4 PM tomorrow, Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman will lead the protest rally and procession organized by the Dhaka Metropolitan North and South units at Paltan Mor of the capital.

He further stated that Assistant Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam has been imprisoned for over 13 years, enduring repeated physical and psychological torture under police remand. He has fallen seriously ill multiple times but has not been provided even basic medical treatment.

He added that the people of the country had hoped that the oppressed leader ATM Azharul Islam would be freed in a new Bangladesh, after it has become freed from tyranny. However, even after six months and nine days of the interim government assuming power, he has not been released. The judicial proceedings under Sheikh Hasina’s fascist rule have been globally criticized, questioned, and rejected. Keeping ATM Azharul Islam imprisoned under previous tyrannical regime is nothing but extreme oppression and injustice. The nation is shocked and bewildered that he remains detained even in a new Bangladesh, striving to free itself from fascism.

In this situation, Jamaat’s Secretary General made an urgent appeal to all levels of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, activists, and the general public to ensure the success of the nationwide protest rally and procession programs aimed at securing immediate release of ATM Azharul Islam.