Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday said Awami League (AL) men should be tried under the ‘black laws’ they formulated over an extended period. “We do not want any injustice and oppression on anyone. Let them be tried under the black laws they had formulated over a long period,” he said. The Jamaat chief said this while addressing the member (Rukon) council of Jamaat’s Dhaka north city unit at Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center in the city’s Sher-e Bangla Nagar area. He mentioned that the AL leaders used to claim that the law is equal for everyone and that the judiciary is independent. “Don’t they deserve the same rights and benefits under equal laws? They should receive what is rightfully theirs to ensure they are not deprived,” he said. On October 28, 2006, the humanity and democracy of Bangladesh, the will and aspirations of the people of Bangladesh were slaughtered in the rampage of Logi-Baitha (sticks-oars), said Dr Rahman. Bangladesh truly lost its way that day. In exchange for many sacrifices for 17 and half years, it got back its own way on August 5, 2024, he said. “All the killers from October 28, 2006 to August 5, 2024 will have to be tried,” said the Jamaat Ameer, adding that the killers of the recent mass movement will have to be tried on priority basis. Citing that no one wants to utter the name of Awami League anymore now, he said, “Now nobody dares to mention their names. Even their party men do not want to utter the name of their party. Why should we, the oppressed people, mention their names?” Credit for August 5 uprising belongs to students, not any party: Jamaat Ameer Dr Rahman said they (AL leaders) have a history of banning their own party. When they had established a one-party system, they banned all parties, including their own one. This time people have banned their party with the help of Allah, he added. “Being ashamed for their misdeeds and seeking apology to the nation, they could have found a way. Not doing so, they are trying to return in the name of Ansar League, Judiciary league and this demand league and that demand league,” he said. The Jamaat chief said they (AL) now send a message to the world that they (AL government) didn’t allow the rise of extremism in Bangladesh, but there is extremism in Bangladesh as they are no longer in the country. He said the biggest extremists were the ones who gave hammers to their children and helmets on their heads. No bigger extremists and terrorists than them were born in Bangladesh, he added. "They committed terrorism. We will not do so. We hate terrorism. We have assured the nation that we will not take any revenge by taking the law into our hands,” said the Jamaat Ameer. He said they (AL) have made people suffer and tortured them by taking laws into their own hands. “But we will not do it. We must seek justice for oppression under existing laws.” Pointing at the leaders and activists, the Jamaat top leader said, “We want to build a united nation in future. So, we have to show limitless patience.”  Jamaat Dhaka north city unit president Mohammad Selim Uddin presided over the council.

Police have found evidence of supporting and funding the new militant outfit Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya by Ameer(chief) of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman, said the DMP chief on Saturday. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq said that the Jamaat Ameer’s son got involved with the militant outfit and later he supported and funded them willingly. He made the comment in reply to a question while briefing reporters after attending a programme in the capital. Read more: Rights experts decry advocacy of Jamaat’s British legal adviser to impose sanctions The Jamaat chief was arrested for his on allegations of assisting the militant group. When asked whether any other leader of Jamaat was found to be associated with the new militant outfit, the commissioner said, “For the sake of privacy, I am not disclosing that information now. We will give details after the operation is successful.” About the escape of two militants from the Dhaka court, Faruq said “We are going to get the report of the investigation committee. The report will ask to take action against those police members who were negligent on duty to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.” Read more: Jamaat ameer involved in breeding new militant outfit: CTTC chief  “Our surveillance has identified not only those two militants but many others who were involved in the incident. Hope we will be able to arrest them soon,” he added.

Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman was involved directly in providing assistance to the activists of new militant outfit Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya to take training in Bandarban and bear the expenses, chief of the Counter Terrorism & Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of DMP Asaduzzaman said Tuesday. Briefing reporters at Dhaka Metropolitan Police media centre, Asaduzzaman said Rafat, son of Shafiqur Rahman, along with one of his associates were arrested from Jatrabari area of the city on November 9. Before the arrest of Rahat, the CTTC unit also arrested three members of new militant outfit Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya from Jatrabari area of the city while they were heading towards Sylhet for training, he said. Following the confessional statement from them, they arrested Rahat and his associates. After interrogating Rafat, it is known that all the youth arrested had been involved in the politics of Shibir and now joined the new militant group, he added. “Rafat was a member of Ansar Al Islam and collected some supporters from the militant group to join their new militant outfit Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya. A group of young people, who left homes recently, led by Rafat went to Bandarban from there they went to Sylhet for training from militants with Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), an armed group in the Chattogram Hill Tracts,” he said. Also read: Jamaat chief put on 7-day remand The Jamaat ameer was involved in sending the young people who left home recently to the hilly areas for training and bearing their expenses, said Asaduzzaman. Besides, a physician identified as Shakir was also arrested in this connection. CTTC unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested the ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman in the early hours of Tuesday. A Dhaka court on Tuesday placed Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Shafiqur Rahman on a 7-day remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury passed the order after the hearing. END/UNB/MJ-MAS/ssk