Hefazat forms committee to unite seven Islamic parties

A liaison committee has been formed to coordinate efforts to build unity among seven Qawmi-based Islamic parties, with Hefazat-e-Islam Secretary General Allama Sajidur Rahman named as its convener.

The decision to form the committee was taken at a meeting between Hefazat leaders and representatives of the seven parties at Al-Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Uloom Babunagar Madrasa in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, today.

Hefazat Ameer Allama Muhibbullah Babunagari chaired the meeting, which began at 11am. Five representatives from each of the seven parties, along with senior Hefazat leaders, attended.

The seven parties are Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Khilafat Majlis, Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, Islami Oikya Jote and Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party.

The meeting discussed draft proposals submitted by the parties on how they could work together under a common platform. As the proposals contained differences on several issues, the participants assigned the liaison committee the task of resolving them.

The committee will hold its first meeting in Dhaka on October 22 to work out a final framework for the proposed unity, Hefazat-e-Islam Joint Secretary General Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi said.

He said the parties currently have different political positions. Some are aligned with the BNP, some with the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, while others are pursuing their activities independently.

“Hefazat, as an umbrella organisation, wants to create unity among them so that they can jointly resist activities they consider contrary to Islamic values,” he added.The committee, headed by convener Sajidur Rahman, will comprise two other senior Hefazat leaders and three representatives from each of the seven parties.

Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi said the seven parties were positive about working together, while Hefazat was seeking to bring them under greater coordination.