Madhupur Pir Sahib Issues Strong Protest, Warning Over Lincoln’s Appointment as Religious Deputy Minister

Allama Abdul Hamid Pir Sahib of Madhupur, convener of the Sammilito Khatme Nabuwwat Parishad, has expressed strong anger and dissatisfaction over the decision to appoint Gaibandha-4 constituency lawmaker Muhammad Shamim Kaiser Lincoln as the State Minister for Religious Affairs.

In a speech delivered at a religious gathering, he strongly criticized the government’s decision to appoint a person whom he described as holding Salafi or “La-Madhhabi” beliefs to an important religious position.

In his speech, Madhupur Pir Sahib said, “Looking at the Hanafi Madhhab, they are appointing a La-Madhhabi person-someone who was previously a leader of Shibir and the leader of innovators. Has he ever given a correct interpretation? Someone who allegedly disrespects the dignity of Tabligh-can this person become the State Minister for Religious Affairs for the 90 percent of Muslims in Bangladesh?”

He suggested that the decision might have been made by misleading the government or the Prime Minister without their full knowledge. He said, “We are assuming that the government is not at fault in this. Someone may have misled the government. Perhaps the government did not understand the matter.”

Referring to the united position of scholars belonging to the Hanafi school and Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat, which represents the majority of Muslims in the country, he said they had already been protesting continuously for several days demanding that the decision be changed.

Mentioning the support of leading Qawmi and Hanafi scholars, he questioned why he should have to raise the issue alone. He said, “Do I have to say this alone? Don’t we need to tell Abdul Quddus Sahib as well? Can’t we take Maulana Mahmud Hasan Sahib with us? Do we no longer need the one from Lalbagh? Do we no longer need Hazari of Patiya?”