Allama Fultali Criticizes Appointment of New State Minister for Religious Affairs

The selection of Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Linkon, Member of Parliament for Gaibandha-4, as the State Minister for Religious Affairs has deeply alarmed Allama Mufti Gias Uddin Choudhury Fultali, Chairman of Darul Fikr wal Ifta Al Islami Bangladesh. The country’s majority Muslim population, who believe their fundamental religious identity, traditional legal precedents, and spiritual practices have been totally disregarded by the current administration in power, have naturally become deeply anxious and apprehensive over this contentious decision regarding such a delicate portfolio.

In an official statement, Allama Fultali stated that Shamim Kaiser is an active adherent of the Ahl-e-Hadith philosophy, which rejects conventional Madhabs in favour of self-interpreted explanations of sacred Islamic literature. He highlighted that putting an adherent of an opposing ideology in charge creates a direct ideological conflict that threatens the foundational faith and long-standing religious customs of the general public because the great majority of the local population strictly adheres to the Hanafi Madhab and the revered path of the Salaf-i-Salihin.

Noting that numerous prominent Islamic scholars and Ulama had previously urged the government against this specific choice, he warned, ‘By ignoring that appeal, the government has taken a stance contrary to the religious sentiments of the populace, which we believe will not bode well for the administration’. He formally encouraged the authorities to reevaluate the nomination and reassign the crucial ministry to someone who is still totally acceptable to the Ulama-e-Kiram and whose background and philosophy are in line with the nation’s historic religious customs.