Jamaat terms arrest of Thakurgaon Ameer a ‘staged drama’

Jamaat-e-Islami has described the detention of its Thakurgaon district Ameer, Belal Uddin, at Saidpur Airport with Tk 50 lakh as a “staged drama” orchestrated by law enforcement agencies.

The allegation was made on Wednesday by the party’s Assistant Secretary General, Ehsanul Mahbub Zubayer, at an emergency press conference held at the party’s central office in Dhaka's Moghbazar.

Zubayer said Belal Uddin is a businessman and questioned how such an incident could occur at a highly secure place like an airport. “This is a planned attempt to make Jamaat-e-Islami controversial,” he claimed.

He further stated that clearance had been given at Dhaka airport regarding the matter. According to him, there was no restriction on transporting the money and authorities at the point of departure had allowed him to travel. “It is nothing but a staged incident,” he added.

The Jamaat leader also alleged that certain groups were trying to destabilise the peaceful atmosphere ahead of the election. He claimed that an election booth in their party ameer’s constituency had been vandalised and that party leaders and activists were facing attacks across the country.

Zubayer further alleged that Jamaat’s polling agents were being removed and assaulted by individuals identifying themselves as members of law enforcement agencies. 

“It appears that a section of the administration has leaned towards a particular party,” he said.

SH