Leaders of anti-democracy and pro-Caliphate Hefazat-e-Islam have clearly crossed the red line by flexing its notorious muscles during the recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh’s celebration of the golden jubilee of independence and celebration of birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Their notorious vandalism, arsonism, murders, physical assault on the members of law enforcement agencies and numerous forms of terrorist acts should be handled with an iron hand. All of these Hefazat culprits should face stern legal actions. There is no room for showing minimum sympathy to these culprits, as they already have posed gravest threat to Bangladesh’s national security. Moreover, Hefazat’s affiliation with Pakistani spy agency Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) and radical Islamic militancy groups such as Al Qaeda, Islamic State, Hizbul Mujahideen, Hizbut Tahrir as well as Jamaat-e-Islami and its political affiliate Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) proves – Hefazat-e-Islam is going to emerge as the next security threat to regional and global communities. For these reasons, Hefazat should be immediately outlawed in Bangladesh and other nations in the world.
While Bangladesh government has decided to enforce countrywide strict lockdown due to alarming rise in the number of COVID-19 cases as well as death toll, Hefazat-e-Islam kingpin Junaid Babu Nagari, through a press conference has termed the lockdown “against Sharia” and decided to keep all the madrassas in the country open, defying government’s directives. It may be mentioned here that, all the schools, colleges and universities in Bangladesh are closed due to the pandemic.
It may be mentioned here that, during the recent months, madrassas in Bangladesh have already emerged as the epicenters of radical Islamic, as well as anti-democracy and anti-government activities.
Denying Hefazat’s recent involvement in countrywide terrorist acts, Babu Nagari made foul bids of falsely putting the blame on the activists of the ruling party.
According to analysts, Hefazat’s audacity has been increasing to an alarming level especially following government’s granting madrassa’s ‘Daora-e-Hadith’ degree to that of Masters degree of the general education system. Taking this advantage, Hefazat-e-Islam has been pushing large number of its madrassa-educated highly radicalized students within civil and military services in the country. It may be mentioned here that, Daora-e-Hadith degrees are not recognized in most of the Muslim nations in the world.
Deputy Director of Islamic Foundation, Ajmal Huq is accused of forcing his subordinate government employees in joining Tablighi Jamaat and regularly going into Chillah into various mosques.
According to media reports, Ajmal spends most of his time in promoting Tablighi Jamaat and attracting people towards activities of this dubious group. He also maintains regular contacts with Tablighi activists in India and other countries.
Ajmal Huq is also accused of spreading religious hatred and promoting jihad through his lectures in mosques and Islamic centers. He also forces his subordinates in visiting various villages and encourage people in joining Tablighi Jamaat.
It may be mentioned here that, Tablighi Jamaat is accused of its connections with radical Islamic militancy outfits, including Al Qaeda and Islamic State. According to counterterrorism experts, Tablighi Jamaat actually works as the recruitment platform of jihadists for joining radical Islamic militancy.
