Dhaka, July 25, 2024 – Acting Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulana ATM Machum, has issued a call for an end to mass arrests, fabricated cases, and dissemination of false information across the country. In a statement released on Thursday, Maulana Machum criticized the government’s actions, claiming they have created a dire situation by arresting large numbers of people and detaining them on false charges.
“The government is creating a terrible situation by carrying out mass arrests across the country and keeping the arrested people in jail on false cases,” he stated.
Maulana Machum accused the government of using intimidation tactics and unlawful detentions to suppress dissent, attributing responsibility for alleged atrocities to the authorities. He highlighted recent inflammatory statements made by government officials as incitements for the violence that followed, resulting in mass killings and disappearances.
“The people of Bangladesh and all over the world know that after the Prime Minister’s speech at the Ganobhaban press conference and Bridge Minister’s statement that ‘Chhatra League is enough to deal with ordinary students’ and the Liberation War Minister’s announcement that ‘I will fight again’, Chhatra League, Jubo League, Awami League and the state security forces started the massacre,” he said. “Hundreds of people were killed in just two to three days. Many people have gone missing.”
Maulana Machum further detailed that the crackdown has not been limited to activists and students but also extended to legal professionals. He cited the recent arrests of Advocate SM Kamal Uddin and Advocate Azmat Hossain as examples of the government’s attempts to stifle legal recourse and intimidate the judiciary.
“The government is sending thousands of people to jail with false cases and has blocked the way to legal aid,” he continued. “On July 24, the former vice-president of the Dhaka Bar, Advocate SM Kamal Uddin, and the former member of the Dhaka Bar, Advocate Azmat Hossain, were arrested. The government is arresting lawyers and creating obstacles for litigants to get justice.”
In his statement, Maulana Machum expressed solidarity with various groups, including the coordinators of the quota movement, who have also faced state violence and persecution. He urged the government to engage in dialogue and address the demands of these groups to restore peace and stability.
“We are drawing the attention of the concerned quarters to accept all their logical demands by discussing with them,” he said. “The government’s repeated warnings of mass arrest and prosecution are nothing but arrogance, arrogance and stubbornness.”
Addressing the law enforcement agencies, Maulana Machum appealed for professionalism and restraint in dealing with citizens, warning of the potential consequences of continued oppression.
“The people of this country have protested against you. You have chosen the path of torture using state power. The consequences will boomerang for you. To the members of the law and order forces of the state, please do not harass the people. Perform state duties professionally as a servant of the Republic.”
He concluded by calling for an immediate end to the government’s oppressive actions and urging for the acceptance of the students’ demands to ensure peace and relief in the country.
