Will Hefazat join hands with BNP this time? Surprise in Babunagri's statement

BNP has become active in bringing the Qawmi Madrasa-based non-political organization Hefazat-e-Islam closer to it ahead of the upcoming national elections. According to those concerned, even as the electoral agreement between religious-based political parties is progressing, Hefazat's current position is becoming helpful for BNP.

It is learned that the five Qawmi Madrasa-based parties - Islami Andolan, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan and Nezame Islam Party - are already following a common program. However, Hefazat's Ameer Shah Muhibullah Babunagri has been consistently making negative comments about Jamaat-e-Islami, which is going in BNP's favor in the election numbers.

In the last few months, Babunagri has publicly said that Jamaat-e-Islami is not a 'true Islamic party'; rather, they believe in the ideology of founder Syed Abul Ala Maududi, which is not the true teachings of Islam. He claims that Jamaat wants to establish ‘not the Islam of Medina, but the Islam of Maududi’. From this position, he has repeatedly urged Qaumi Madrasa-based parties not to form an alliance with Jamaat.

Several top leaders, including BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, have recently met Babunagri several times. In addition, at a conference organized at the National Museum in Dhaka, BNP leaders remembered the contributions of four late top leaders of Hefazat. According to political analysts, this was a ‘political message’ from BNP to Hefazat.

On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami is claiming that the statement of the Hefazat Ameer is his personal opinion. Party Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said, “The Hefazat Ameer is an old scholar. Statements that destroy the unity of Islamic parties are not desirable from his side.”

However, in reality, it appears that Hefazat’s anti-Jamaat stance is creating a strategic opportunity for BNP. Especially when seven parties, including Jamaat, are simultaneously agitating for the full implementation of the July Charter and proportional voting, the position led by Babunagari gives the BNP an additional advantage by surrounding its Qawmi Madrasa-centric 'vote bank'.