Hefazat urges seven Islamic parties to leave Jamaat alliance
Collected Photo
The non-political organization Hefazat-e-Islam has taken an initiative to bridge differences among seven Islamic political parties from the Qawmi madrasa tradition. To reinvigorate Hefazat’s activities, the organization’s amir and secretary general have started a process aimed at uniting the seven parties.
Speaking with several leaders who attended a meeting on the unity process, it was learned that Hefazat’s ‘murubbis’ (senior religious leaders) advised the Islamic parties to leave their electoral alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami. However, some leaders favored strengthening unity under Hefazat’s leadership while keeping the electoral alliance intact.
Hefazat-e-Islam Senior Vice Amir Maulana Salahuddin Nanupuri said, “One or two Islamic parties entered into electoral alliances. Not all parties did. Those that formed alliances were asked whether they would remain there or stay united under the leadership of Hefazat as before. There was discussion about those who formed alliances with Jamaat-e-Islami or other parties separating from them.”
A discussion meeting on the unity process was held from 10 am to 3 pm Thursday at Jamea Azizul Uloom Babunagar Madrasa in Fatikchhari upazila of Chattogram. The meeting was chaired by Hefazat-e-Islam Amir Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari. Discussions took place in the presence of a total of 10 murubbis of Hefazat, or top scholars from the Qawmi tradition, including Secretary General Sajidur Rahman.
Three representatives from each of the seven Islamic political parties attended the meeting. The parties are Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, Islami Oikya Jote, Khelafat Andolan, Khelafat Majlis and Islami Andolan (Charmonai Pir).
In the 13th parliamentary election, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, Khelafat Majlis and Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan took part under the Jamaat-e-Islami-led ‘11-party electoral alliance.’ Meanwhile, Islami Oikya Jote and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam contested the election using the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol.
The non-political organization Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, rooted in the Qawmi madrasa tradition, emerged in 2010 in opposition to the women’s policy introduced during the now-banned Awami League government’s tenure. On May 5, 2013, it held its first major public program through a blockade at Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar. Through various developments since then, the non-political Hefazat has remained one of the most discussed organizations in political circles for more than a decade.
After the deaths of founding Amir Ahmad Shafi and Secretary General Junayed Babunagari, the organization’s activities had somewhat slowed. Following the fall of the Awami League government during the mass uprising on Aug. 5, 2024, it became active again. Later, it again fell behind amid election-centered political developments.
From the beginning, the main strength of Hefazat-e-Islam has been the Islamic parties of the Qawmi tradition. Several leaders of the organization said divisions among the parties over joining electoral alliances had also affected Hefazat.
Mir Idris, central joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam and Khelafat Andolan, who attended the meeting, said, “The seven parties were once united. Later, disagreements arose when some joined the BNP and others joined Jamaat alliances. Now the murubbis of Hefazat have taken an initiative so that they can become united again. They have been proposed to leave their alliances. The matter has not yet been finalized. A decision has been made to prepare a framework on this issue.”
“Khelafat Andolan is not in any electoral alliance. We agree with the initiative taken by the murubbis. We also want the Islamic parties to become united and strengthen Hefazat-e-Islam,” Mir Idris said.
Asked about leaving the alliances, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Amir Maulana Mamunul Haque, who attended the meeting, said, “I am not aware of any such discussion having taken place at the meeting. We are with Hefazat-e-Islam. Discussions were held on how we can come closer and how our mutual closeness can be further increased.”
After the fall of the Awami League government, a kind of “understanding” had developed between Hefazat-e-Islam and Jamaat-e-Islami. However, Hefazat Amir Shah Muhibbullah has consistently expressed his opposition to Jamaat. Even so, several leaders said there was a degree of “discomfort” within Hefazat over several Islamic parties contesting elections together with Jamaat.
In this situation, five months after the election, Hefazat’s top leaders held a meeting with leaders of seven like-minded Islamic parties, excluding Jamaat. Several participants in the meeting said this conveyed a message to the Islamic parties to distance themselves from the BNP and Jamaat.
Hefazat-e-Islam Joint Secretary General Azizul Haque Islamabadi said Jamaat-e-Islami had been excluded by the decision of the ‘murubbis.’
“Whether Jamaat is included or not is a decision for the murubbis. There have been two meetings before this one. This is the third meeting. Jamaat was not present at the previous meetings either. The goal of the meeting is to keep the Islamic parties united,” he said.
Maulana Salahuddin Nanupuri said, “Jamaat has never been with Hefazat and is not with it now. The seven Islamic parties have been told to remain united under the leadership of Hefazat.”
