Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has strongly condemned and protested the decision by the 14-party alliance led by the Awami League to ban Jamaat-e-Islami. He stated that, amid the chaos created under the guise of suppressing the quota movement, the government has taken an irrational decision beyond its jurisdiction to ban Jamaat, in order to divert the attention of the country and the world. This decision taken during the 14-party meeting on July 29 is unreasonable, illegal, and unconstitutional. The people of the country have rejected this decision.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Jamaat Ameer expressed his strong condemnation and protest against this unauthorized and unconstitutional decision. He emphasized that the Awami League-led 14-party alliance is a political platform and cannot make decisions about another political party. The laws and constitution of Bangladesh do not grant any party or alliance the authority to ban another party. If such a precedent is set, it will lead to a continuous cycle of banning between parties, disrupting the state’s order.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman pointed out that Jamaat-e-Islami is an established democratic political organization that has participated in all credible national elections and has represented in the National Parliament. It has played a historic role in every democratic movement. The Awami League has previously collaborated with Jamaat in various movements and introduced the caretaker government system to ensure free, fair, and impartial elections, leading to credible elections in the country. Therefore, the demand to ban such a democratic organization is illegal, unauthorized, and unconstitutional. The public will not accept this demand by the 14-party alliance.
He further stated that when the student movement against discrimination gained momentum, the government responded with provocative statements from key figures, leading to attacks on anti-discrimination students by the Chhatra League. Subsequently, different state forces perpetrated a massacre across the country. Such indiscriminate mass killings to suppress a movement have never occurred in Bangladesh’s history. The entire nation and global conscience condemn the government for this massacre. The nation is united against this atrocity. The government has been spreading falsehoods from the beginning to evade responsibility for its misdeeds.
The Jamaat Ameer highlighted that the government, using state machinery, continues to blame Jamaat and opposition parties for its actions. Educators, cultural figures, journalists, and conscious citizens are criticizing and protesting the government’s role. There have been calls for international investigations from various quarters. Since its inception, Jamaat-e-Islami has been operating peacefully, democratically, and systematically for the welfare of the nation and will continue to do so, InshaAllah. It has contributed to the country’s development in education, health, economy, and social work, striving tirelessly to establish the rule of law, justice, and human rights. Millions of people are connected with Jamaat.
The nation and the world are aware that over the past 16 years, Jamaat-e-Islami has faced extreme repression. Top leaders have been executed in fabricated cases. Numerous leaders and activists have been killed or permanently disabled. Many have been disappeared. Despite such oppression, Jamaat has not been isolated from the people. In the past, Jamaat has been falsely blamed for various incidents without investigation, only to be later proven uninvolved, with the ruling faction being implicated instead. This time too, all of the government’s propaganda will be exposed as false, InshaAllah.
With the love of the people, we continue our journey relying on the help of Almighty Allah. Hasbunallahu wa ni’mal wakeel. Ni’mal maula wa ni’man nasir. With patience, trust in Allah, and courage, we will confront all conspiracies alongside the nation. No conspiracy can suppress the truth. Ultimately, the truth will prevail, injustice will end, and the nation will be freed. We call upon patriotic citizens, transcending party lines, to rise against the massacre in protest of autocracy. May Allah be our helper. Ameen.
