Act Against Wrongdoing, Not Protesters: Islami Andolan
Islami Andolan Bangladesh has urged the government to take strict action against those involved in crimes and irregularities instead of harassing people who protest against wrongdoing. In a statement issued on Saturday (October 3), the party’s Secretary General Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman made the call.
He said the government had recently taken action against protesters in at least two incidents involving alleged crimes and irregularities. This, he said, had indirectly encouraged wrongdoing. “A democratic government should welcome protests,” he said.
The Islami Andolan secretary general said that following an attack, vandalism and looting at content creator Salman Muqtadir’s studio in the capital, his immediate statement about the incident was made the main issue. His bank account information was later sought. According to information published in the media, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) sent letters to banks on September 30 seeking information about Salman Muqtadir’s bank accounts and transactions.
He also referred to the arrest of Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman while protesting passenger suffering caused by a shortage of luggage facilities and trolleys at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. On October 3, a court granted him one day of remand in a case filed with the Airport Police Station over the incident.
Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman said passengers who had faced hours of difficulties after long journeys should ideally remain polite while protesting. However, he said, if anyone behaves improperly, they may face legal liability. “But the arrest in this case has brought the oppressive face of the state to the forefront,” he said.
He said harassing people who protest against crimes and injustice would encourage such wrongdoing. It would embolden offenders and create a path for the state to become oppressive. “This cannot be allowed to happen,” he said. Islami Andolan Bangladesh protested against what it described as harsh action against protesters and urged the government to move away from such an approach.
