Chattogram Correspondent

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s planned meeting with Hefazat-e-Islam chief Shah Allama Muhibbullah Babunagari during his visit to Chattogram has sparked fresh political discussion. Political circles say the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) may be seeking closer ties with Hefazat by taking into account the organisation’s long-standing ideological differences with Jamaat-e-Islami.

The prime minister is scheduled to pay a courtesy visit to the Hefazat chief at Al Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Uloom Babunagari Madrasa in Fatikchhari on Sunday. The meeting is expected to take place around 2pm. Tarique Rahman is also scheduled to visit the grave of Hefazat founder Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi at the same location.

Political sources said Hefazat-e-Islam took a strong anti-Jamaat position ahead of the last national election. Its chief publicly expressed support for the BNP and urged voters not to support Jamaat. The distance between Hefazat and Jamaat has reportedly continued after the election, strengthening speculation about closer BNP-Hefazat ties.

Several Hefazat leaders who had participated in elections in alliance with Jamaat were later kept away from the organisation’s activities, according to sources. Against this backdrop, there has also been speculation over whether closer BNP-Hefazat relations could be part of a strategy to exert political pressure on Jamaat.

Withdrawal of Cases May Be Discussed

Hefazat sources said the organisation may ask the prime minister to withdraw the remaining cases filed against its leaders and activists. Discussions may also cover religious issues and greater consideration of Hefazat’s views, as well as cooperation with Qawmi madrasa institutions.

Hefazat claims that around 350 cases were filed against its leaders and activists during the Awami League government’s tenure. A large number of those cases were withdrawn during the interim government’s tenure, while some others were withdrawn after the BNP came to power.

However, several cases filed in different areas, including Hathazari, Brahmanbaria, Munshiganj and Mymensingh, following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh on March 26, 2021, remain unresolved.

Hefazat Joint Secretary General Allama Azizul Haque Islamabadi said the meeting between the prime minister and the Hefazat chief was significant.

“The issue of withdrawing cases against our leaders and activists will naturally come up for discussion,” he said. Religious issues and the importance of Hefazat’s views may also be discussed, he added.

Long-standing Ideological Differences with Jamaat

Hefazat-e-Islam, which follows the Deobandi tradition, and Jamaat-e-Islami, associated with the Mawdudi school of thought, have long-standing ideological differences.

Political analysts say the BNP may see an opportunity to use these differences to strengthen its own political position.

Tarique Rahman had earlier invited the Hefazat chief to attend his swearing-in ceremony as prime minister. The Hefazat chief could not attend because of illness. His planned meeting with the prime minister in Chattogram is therefore being viewed as politically significant.

A Jamaat leader said Hefazat’s opposition to Jamaat was rooted in ideological differences, but the BNP could seek to use that position to its political advantage under the current circumstances.

Jamaat, however, has not ruled out efforts to reduce its distance from Hefazat. A party leader said the organisation takes Hefazat’s criticism seriously and reviews its position when necessary.

BNP's Position

Nazimur Rahman, member secretary of the Chattogram Metropolitan BNP, said the BNP and Hefazat had worked together during the anti-authoritarian movement.

He said Hefazat had supported the BNP after the fall of the Awami League government and during the national election. The prime minister’s planned meeting with the Hefazat chief is a continuation of that relationship, he added.

According to him, there is no basis for viewing the meeting as an anti-Jamaat strategy, describing it instead as a reflection of the existing relationship between the BNP and Hefazat.

Hefazat’s political influence drew widespread national attention following its May 5, 2013 rally at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka. The organisation’s relationship with the BNP also became closer around that time. Although a section of Hefazat later maintained communication with the Awami League government amid changing political and administrative circumstances, that group’s activities are now largely inactive, according to people familiar with the matter.