The government has been violating the constitution continuously and they are playing a tricky game with the democratic, civil, and fundamental rights of the people. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s central executive committee member and Dhaka city North Ameer Mohammad Selim Uddin made this remark while issuing a statement today. He gave the statement protesting the police’s denial to allow Jamaat-e-Islami to hold a procession and rally in the city which had been called demanding the withdrawal of anti-Islamic items from the textbooks and simultaneously for decreasing the electricity price.
Selim Uddin said, we have secured our independence to facilitate equality and equity, social justice, humanitarian values, rule of law, and the sound practice of democracy. The third paragraph of the preamble of our constitution guarantees that, “it shall be a fundamental aim of the State to realise through the democratic process a socialist society, free from exploitation a society in which the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedom, equality and justice, political, economic and social, will be secured for all citizens. But because of the ideological bankruptcy of the post-independence Awami League government and due to their excessive greed for power, our dream and constitutional rights still remain unmet.
Though Awami League verbally cries for democracy but practically they launched one-party rule through the 4th amendment of the constitution in 1974 by banning all political parties. On 16th June of the same year, the then government banned all newspapers except 4 state-owned newspapers. Thus they exposed their undemocratic, unilateral, and fascist character once again. Actually, their verbal slogan of democracy and rule of law is nothing but a deception. He vehemently protested the police’s move as they did not allow Jamaat-e-Islami to hold a procession at the North gate of Baitul Mukarram.
He further said article 11 of the constitution has guaranteed democracy and democratic values. Article 37 says, “Every citizen shall have the right to assemble and to participate in public meetings and processions peacefully and without arms, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interests of public order or public health. While, article 38 clarifies that, “Every citizen shall have the right to form associations or unions, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interests of morality or public order. But regrettably, despite Jamaat’s appeal for holding a procession on 11th February at the North gate of Baitul Mukarram, the government has violated it and thus they have violated the constitution. But on the contrary, ruling party leaders have been presented to the people as pro-democracy and as such, they made their activities a complete mockery.
Selim Uddin said Jamaat is an undeniable force in Bangladeshi politics. The existence and activities of this party are a reality. Since the beginning, Jamaat-e-Islami has been working hard to change society based on justice. During the Pakistani period, Jamaat took part in the democratic movement under the banner of COP and DAC. In the movement of 1969, Jamaat also played an uncompromising role. Jamaat’s historic role is well recognized during the anti-autocracy movement of 1990. Except for the recent farcical elections, Jamaat had representations in all parliament. But being failed to tackle Jamaat politically and ideologically, the government has made plots and conspiracy against Jamaat-e-Islami. The authority is afraid of Jamaat-e-Islami and this is why they want to subdue the party by using police and other law enforcement agencies. But this policing strategy will not bring any positive impact on anyone; rather it will be a boomerang for the ruling authorities. He urged the government to give up the illpoliticis and conspiracy strategy and also to come back to the systematic trend of politics.
City Ameer said the government is busy in imposing atheist and anti-national ideology upon the countrymen. As a part of that conspiracy, they have included the theory of evolution, Hinduism, and anti-Islamic chapters in the textbooks. By increasing the power price repeatedly, they caused unbearable suffering for the citizens. They are hatching a conspiracy to grab the state’s power by holding another farcical election. But the people will not allow them to make this happen anymore. He urged the government to step down and also hand over power to the caretaker government. Otherwise, people will attain their just demands through a massive movement, he asserted.