A sharp controversy has erupted within the country’s Islamist political landscape following a public intervention by Hefazat-e-Islami Ameer Muhibullah Babunagri, whose remarks against Jamaat-e-Islami have exposed widening internal divisions ahead of national elections.
Speaking at a gathering at Kazir Hat Madrasa in Chattogram’s Fatikchhari area last Friday, Babunagri urged voters to support BNP-nominated candidate Sarwar Alamgir in the Chattogram-2 constituency and issued a direct religious warning against Jamaat-e-Islami.
In the presence of the BNP candidate, he told the audience, “Tell all Muslims that voting for them (Jamaat) is not permissible. It is haram.”
The statement, delivered from a madrasa platform by the head of an organisation that has long described itself as non-political, quickly resonated beyond the local contest, triggering debate across Islamist circles nationwide.
The controversy is heightened by Hefazat’s own internal contradictions. Several leaders linked to Hefazat are contesting the election in alliance with Jamaat. At least half a dozen leaders of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis—led by Hefazat Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque—along with more than two dozen figures from allied Islamic groups, are running with Jamaat’s backing.
Babunagri’s remarks have therefore publicly undermined a party that remains a political ally of several senior figures associated with Hefazat.
At the same time, another segment of Hefazat-aligned forces is campaigning alongside Jamaat’s principal rival, BNP. Several Islamic parties, including Jamiat-e-Ulama Islam, are part of this bloc, highlighting the absence of a unified Islamist electoral strategy.
Islamist leaders and political analysts say the intervention has added to confusion among conservative voters, many of whom have traditionally viewed Hefazat as a unifying religious platform rather than a partisan actor.
The episode has also revived questions about whether Hefazat can credibly maintain claims of political neutrality when religious authority is used to issue voting guidance.
In an apparent attempt to limit the fallout, Hefazat Secretary General Sajidur Rahman told TIMES of Bangladesh that the organisation does not take political positions.
“Hefazat-e-Islam is not a political platform,” he said. “Those associated with Hefazat who are contesting elections are doing so in their individual capacities and under their respective political parties.”
Asked about Babunagri’s remarks, he declined substantive comment, saying: “As he is our mentor, we do not wish to comment further. Hefazat is asking people to vote according to their own judgment, not for any specific party or candidate.”
Jamaat’s measured response
Despite being directly targeted, Jamaat has responded with caution. Party sources say the leadership is avoiding public confrontation with Babunagri to prevent further fragmentation of the Islamist vote during a sensitive election period.
According to sources concerned, Jamaat leaders have instead sought quiet engagement, raising broader political concerns, including the future of the International Crimes Tribunal. Jamaat figures have reportedly argued that a BNP-led government would be unable to keep the tribunal operational while revisiting cases linked to alleged killings and disappearances of Hefazat leaders and activists, including those related to the 2013 Shapla Chattar crackdown during the Awami League government.
A delegation associated with the tribunal recently met Babunagri in Fatikchhari. Hefazat Joint Secretary General and Islamic speaker Harun Izhar was present at the meeting.
He told TIMES that Babunagri assured the delegation efforts would be made to keep the tribunal functional even if BNP comes to power, though his critical stance towards Jamaat remained unchanged.
Babunagri’s remarks appear primarily aimed at influencing the local race, where BNP candidate Sarwar Alamgir is facing Chattogram Metropolitan Jamaat-e-Islami General Secretary Nurul Amin. However, the political impact has extended well beyond constituency boundaries.
Responding cautiously, Nurul Amin said, “Babunagri is a respected person. If he points out our mistakes, we will try to correct them.”
Beyond this, Jamaat leaders and activists have largely remained silent, reflecting what party insiders describe as a deliberate effort to contain political damage.
Unease within Hefazat
Within Hefazat, the remarks have triggered visible unease. Senior figures have issued carefully worded responses that stop short of endorsing the ameer’s position, pointing to uncertainty over whether the statement should be treated as personal or institutional.
Harun Izhar said the comments should not be interpreted as an organisational directive, stressing they were made in a specific local context. Hefazat Assistant Secretary General Musa Izhar echoed that position, saying the organisation neither supports nor opposes any political party and has issued no voting instructions.
He acknowledged, however, that differing political alignments among Hefazat-affiliated leaders have created confusion among supporters.
The uncertainty is further underscored by the silence of Babunagri’s close associate, Hefazat Joint Secretary General Nasir Widdan Munir, who is contesting the election from a Jamaat-led alliance in areas surrounding Babunagri’s stronghold. Munir has made no public comment.
Neither Babunagri nor Munir responded to requests for comment from TIMES.
As polling day approaches, Babunagri’s “haram vote” declaration has emerged as a significant flashpoint, exposing ideological fault lines within Islamist politics and highlighting how religious authority is increasingly being deployed as a powerful—and polarising—tool in the country’s electoral contest.
