Although Hefazat-e-Islam has claimed to be a non-political organisation, a large number of the leaders of its newly formed 33-member committee have political affiliation. They are said to be involved with different political parties directly or indirectly.
The 33-member central committee of the Hefazat-e-Islami was announced by Maulana Nurul Islam Jehadi, a leader of a faction of the radical organization, on June 7.
Apart from political leaders, many other leaders of the new committee are the members of the Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasa Board of Education, the Azad Dwini Edara of Sylhet, the Tanjimul Madaris and the Hayatul Uliya, the highest education authority of Qawmi authority.
According to the new committee, one of its Nayeb-e-Ameers (Vice-President) Ataullah Hafejji is the Ameer (Chief) of a political party named Khelafat Andolan. A joint secretary of the committee, Anwarul Karim is a vice-president of another political party named Zamiyat-e-Ulama-e-Islam.
Another leader, Abdul Quaiyum Sobhani, the Daowa secretary, is a leader of another political party named Khelafat-e-Majlish. The Organising Secretary Meer Idris of the new committee is also a leader of Khelafat Andolan.
Publicity Secretary Muhiuddin Rabbani is involved with Jamaat-e-Islami based organisation ‘Olama Mashayekh and Masjid Mission.
Besides, many other leaders of the new committee are indirectly involved with the politics backed by BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
According to sources, in the name of a new committee, a ridiculous situation has been created as political leaders and officials of different madrasa boards have been included in the committee.
As per the new committee of a faction of Hefazat-e-Islam announced on June 7, Junayed Babunagari has been made its chief (ameer) and Nurul Islam Jihadi as the Secretary General. In the new committee, at least 20 of its former leaders, including controversial leader Mamunul Haque, have been dropped from the new committee.
On the other hand, Mohammad Yusuf, the elder son of late Shafi Ahmed, who was also the founder of the organisation, has been included in the committee as one of its assistant secretary generals.
But, the followers of Shafi Ahmed led by Mohiuddin Ruhi rejected the committee and they are going to announce a 313-member counter draft committee of the organisation on June 17.
According to sources, Mufti Halim Bokhari, a founder Nayeb-e-Ameer of Hefazat-Islami, is going to be the chief of the counter committee. Besides, former leaders of the organisation, Sultan Jouk Nodvi, Mahmudil Hasan, former Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdul Hamid, Rezaul Karim, Ataullah Hafejji, Mohiuddin Ruhi, Obaidur Rahman Khan Nodvi, Sajedur Rahman, Dr Mostak Ahmad, Ruhul Amin Khan, among others might become the top leaders of the organisation.
It should be mentioned that although the Hefazat-e-Islam was formed in 2010 as a non-political organisation by late Shafi Ahmed, but day by day it became involved with politics and also with various extremisms.
In recent time, it became arrogant centring the Bangladesh visit of Indian Prime Minister Norendra Modi. Many people died while many others sustained injuries due to their anarchy. At one stage, the government started taking of leagal action and in face of the government move, the radical organisation became scattered.
