Hefazat forms new committee, drops disputed leaders

Junaid Babunagari, Ameer, Hefazate Islam

Dhaka, June 7 – Embattled Hefazat-e-Islam on Monday announced a 33-member new full-fledged committee with Junayed Babunagari as its ameer and dropping controversial leader Mamunul Haque.
Hefazat leader Nurul Islam has been declared the general secretary of the committee.
Nurul Islam Jihadi, central committee leader of Hefazat-e-Islam announced the names of the new committee at a press briefing held at Jamia Islamia Makhjanul Madrasha in the city’s Khilgaon intersection.
Joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam Mamunul Haq and Organising secretary Azizul Haque Islamabadi and other controversial leaders have failed to make to the committee.
Hazrat Maulana Ataullah Hafezi has been made the Nayeb-e-Ameer of the committee and Hazrat Maulana Sajedur Rahman has been made the joint secretary general.
Besides, Hazrat Maulana Mir Idris has been made the organising secretary while Hazrat Maulana Muhiuddin Rabbani made the publicity secretary of the committee.
The Hefazat-e-Islam also announced its 16-member advisory committee making Junayed Babunagari as its chief.
It also announced a nine-member Central Khas Committee which has been considered as ‘Majlish e-Sura’ of the party.
On April 25, Hefazat-e-Islam chief Junayed Babunagari dissolved the organisation's central committee amid its controversial role in the vandalism launched during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in late March.
Speaking in a video message from Chattogram's Hathazari Madrasa, Hefazat's spiritual headquarters, Babunagari at that time said: "Considering the overall situation of the country, the central committee has been dissolved following the advice of some of its key members."
Many top Hefazat leaders have been arrested so far over the protests and violence orchestrated by the organisation's supporters and activists across the country against Modi's Bangladesh visit.
At least 77 cases have been filed against Hefazat leaders and activists from across the country over clashes and vandalism. More than 69,000 people have been accused in the incidents.
Babungari has announced the dissolution of the Qawmi madrasa-based organisation's central committee when its leaders, activists and supporters are being arrested in different places of the country including Dhaka every day.
On June 5, a Narayanganj court sent Mamunul Haque, former joint secretary general of Hefajat-e-Islam, to Kashimpur Central Jail on completion of his 18-day remand in six separate cases.
On April 18, a joint team of Tejgaon Division police and DMP's Detective Branch arrested Mamunul from Jamia Rahmania Arabia Madrasah in Mohammadpur.
Mamunul, who has been in the limelight due to some recent controversies, was held with a woman he claimed to be his second wife from a resort in Sonargaon on April 3.
Later, Hefazat leaders claimed that Mamunul went to the resort with his “second wife” where locals confined and harassed him before calling in the police.