Hefazat Holds Emergency Meeting Over Religious Affairs State Minister Appointment

Hefazat-e-Islam held an emergency meeting at Babunagar Madrasa in Chattogram on Sunday to discuss concerns over the appointment of Shamim Kaiser Lincoln as the State Minister for Religious Affairs. The meeting was chaired by Hefazat Ameer Allama Muhibullah Babunagari in the presence of Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Abdul Hamid, also known as Pir Saheb Madhupur. The leaders questioned the need to appoint a state minister when a full minister is already in charge of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. They also expressed concerns over Lincoln’s political and religious views and his past statements.

Hefazat Ameer Muhibullah Babunagari said the decision was not appropriate. The organisation decided to seek a direct meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to discuss the matter. A nine-member delegation of senior Islamic scholars, led by Hefazat Secretary General Maulana Sajidur Rahman and Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Abdul Hamid, will meet the prime minister as soon as possible. The meeting also decided to request that no Hefazat representative or madrasa official attend any meeting with the newly appointed state minister before the delegation meets the prime minister. Maulana Ayub Babunagari, Maulana Yakub Usmani, Maulana Abu Ammar Abdullah and Maulana Nurul Haque, among other senior scholars, attended the emergency meeting.