Outrage as Govt Appoints ‘La-Mazhabi’ Figure to Religious Affairs Ministry
After Shamim Kaiser Linkon was appointed as the State Minister for Religious Affairs, Allama Abdul Hamid Peer Saheb Modhupur, Vice-President of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh and Amir of the Khatme Nabuwwat Preservation Committee, voiced extreme discontent and fear. Speaking during the minister’s oath-taking ceremony, he declared that it is completely inappropriate to entrust such a delicate ministry to someone whose religious beliefs have long caused dissension and anxiety among traditional Islamic scholars (Ulama). He emphasised that the position calls for someone who respects the customs, values, and beliefs of the majority Muslim population, cautioning that neglecting the nation’s larger religious realities might lead to needless conflict and division in the religious community.
The Bangladesh Islamic Front, led by Chairman Maulana M. A. Matin and Secretary General Principal S. U. Abdus Samad, released a forceful joint statement opposing the appointment. They characterised PM Tarique Rahman’s administration’s decision to assign the portfolio to a ‘La-Mazhabi’ person who adheres to Ahle Hadith philosophy as self-destructive and openly disregarding the country’s sizable Sunni population. The leaders described the decision as a worrying signal for the stability of the country going forward, citing Linkon’s previous contentious acts concerning fundamental Islamic beliefs.
To preserve societal cohesion, both well-known Islamic organisations asked the government to examine the appointment and give mainstream religious leaders’ opinions top priority when making policy choices. On behalf of pious citizens, the Khatme Nabuwwat Preservation Committee formally demanded a swift reconsideration; however, the Bangladesh Islamic Front cautioned that if these grave issues were not addressed, mainstream Sufi-oriented Sunni Muslims, whom they described as the country’s main strength, would be forced to launch stringent nationwide protest programs.
