Madhupur Pir Sahib Demands Hanafi Scholar as State Minister For Religious Affairs

Allama Abdul Hamid, known as Madhupur Pir Sahib and convener of the Sammilit Khatme Nabuwat Parishad, has demanded that State Minister for Religious Affairs Shamim Kaiser Lincoln be replaced by a qualified scholar who follows the Hanafi school of thought. He also called for the repeal of what he described as a controversial transgender-related labour law and demanded a ban on Hizbut Tawheed. He made the remarks as a special guest at a conference at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in Kakrail, Dhaka, on Tuesday (August 25).

Criticising former chief adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, he said, “Yunus has destroyed everything in a few days, Yunus has destroyed the country in a blink of an eye.” He also criticised Jamaat-e-Islami and raised concerns over what he described as the party’s positions on religious issues.

He questioned the appointment of the State Minister for Religious Affairs, saying most Muslims in Bangladesh follow the Hanafi school. He alleged that appointing a state minister from a different or non-madhhab background was creating confusion and demanded clarification of Lincoln’s religious position.”I would like to request that I or we, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, are from the Hanafi school of thought. 90 percent of us are Hanafi. A good scholar from the Hanafi school of thought should be appointed as the Minister of State for Religious Affairs,” he said. He also urged the State Minister for Religious Affairs to publicly clarify his religious position through a newspaper advertisement to resolve the controversy.