Dhaka: The leader of Jamaat-e-Islami (Bangladesh Islamic Assembly), Bangladesh’s largest Muslim party, has been detained days after he declared the party would join opposition-led protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
A statement from the party’s acting secretary general, Maulana ATM Masum, said “Shafiqur Rahman was arrested from his residence on December 12. We are vehemently condemning and protesting his arrest,” Masum said, calling the authorities for his immediate and unconditional release.
For years, Jamaat, the country’s third-largest political party, which has been banned from contesting elections since 2012, was a major ally of the major opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and their alliance ruled the country from 2001 to 2006.
But after Hasina came to power in 2009, Jamaat’s whole leadership was arrested and tried for war crimes dating back to the country’s 1971 independence war against Pakistan.
Five of its top leaders were hanged between 2013 and 2016 after they were found guilty by a war crimes court. Hundreds of party activists were shot dead and tens of thousands were jailed after they staged violent protests against the executions.
“All efforts are going on to destroy the leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami,” read the Jamaat statement. “On one hand, they are talking of democracy and election, while on the other they are oppressing … the opposition leaders and activists. Practically, they do not believe in democracy.”
Last month, police also arrested Rahman’s son, Rafat Sadik Saifullah, on extremism charges and remanded him in custody under the country’s harsh “anti-terrorism” laws. Supporters of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, hold a rally in Dhaka.
Rahman’s arrest came amid a continuing crackdown by the government when tens of thousands of BNP leaders and supporters led a rally protesting against soaring fuel prices and cost of living in the country.