Those Responsible Must Be Identified and Brought to Justice: Islamic Leaders

Leaders of various Islamic organizations have expressed their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the government after the Minister of State for Religious Affairs, following directives from the Prime Minister, recalled copies of the controversial book ‘Nexus’ gifted to world-champion Quran Hafezes yesterday. The leaders also urged the government to identify and bring to justice those who orchestrated the distribution of the book to tarnish the government’s image.

Warning that inaction could lead to further consequences, Allama Muhiuddin Rabbani, Secretary General of International Majlis-e Tahaffuz-e Khatm-e Nabuwat Bangladesh, issued a statement on Sunday praising the state honor bestowed upon the Hafezes as a commendable initiative.
However, he noted that presenting a book by Yuval Noah Harari, an author whose views conflict with Islamic beliefs and ethics, was inappropriate for such a solemn occasion. While thanking the government for correcting the error, he urged authorities to investigate potential conspiracies aimed at creating dissatisfaction among scholars and damaging the state’s reputation, demanding exemplary punishment for those involved.

Bangladesh Nezam-e Islam Party: Acting Amir Maulana Abdul Qaiyum Subhani and Secretary General Maulana Musa Bin Izhar of Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party issued a joint statement expressing deep concern and strong condemnation over the gifting of ‘Nexus’ to the Hafezes. They emphasized that the Hafezes represent Bangladesh’s religious heritage and values, questioning why a book containing controversial views on religion and faith was selected for a prestigious state ceremony instead of text aligned with their values.

They stated that presenting the controversial book raised serious questions regarding state-level religious sensitivity and official responsibility, demanding legal accountability for those responsible.

Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan: During an emergency meeting at the Kamrangirchar Madrasa, Allama Habibullah Miyaji, Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, strongly protested the distribution of the book and called for strict punishment for those implicated.

National Ulema Alliance: The National Ulema Alliance thanked the Ministry of Religious Affairs for swiftly withdrawing the book. However, Convener Maulana Ashraf Uddin Mahdi Azhari stated that simply recalling the book is insufficient to resolve the issue.

He stressed that greater scrutiny and responsibility are required when selecting gifts for national religious events. He called for a thorough investigation to determine how the book was included and approved, demanding effective action against those found responsible to prevent future occurrences.