Jamaat calls off sit-in at CAO after talks with Yunus

Jamaat-e-Islami has called off its planned sit-in protest outside the Chief Adviser’s Office, originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 25. 

The decision comes after a meeting between the party’s Amir, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, and Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Monday afternoon.

In a statement released late Monday, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General, Mia Golam Parwar, announced the suspension of the public sit-in programme. “Considering the overall situation in the country, the public sit-in program announced by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on February 25 has been suspended for the time being,” the statement read. It further noted that Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, at the request of senior party leaders, has also agreed to postpone his planned “voluntary arrest” initiative.

While the statement did not explicitly link the suspension to the meeting with Yunus, a separate statement from the party confirmed that the two leaders met at 4:00pm on Monday at Jamuna to discuss the country’s current situation. Jamaat nayeb-e-amir and former MP Dr Syed Abdullah Md Taher accompanied Shafiqur at the meeting.

Jamaat had announced the sit-in demanding the release of imprisoned leader ATM Azharul Islam, who is facing a death sentence in a crimes-against-humanity case. With the programme now postponed, the focus shifts to the ongoing legal proceedings involving ATM Azharul Islam. His review petition seeking acquittal is slated for hearing on Tuesday, listed as item 19 on the Appellate Division’s agenda.

Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, addressed the situation at a press briefing held Monday afternoon at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in the capital. 

Responding to journalists’ questions about Jamaat’s planned protest, he emphasised the government’s stance: “Everyone has the right to protest. They [Jamaat] are protesting. We want the protest to be conducted in an orderly manner. We do not want the law and order situation to deteriorate as a result.”

Regarding Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s earlier pledge to voluntarily remain in prison if ATM Azharul Islam is not released, Shafiqul Alam refrained from speculation. “I can only say that it is the jurisdiction of the court. Since it is a matter of judicial decision, the court will look into the matter,” he said.