Hefazat-e-Islam to hold nationwide demonstrations on May 23

Hefazat-e-Islam has announced plans to stage demonstrations across the country to press for several key demands, including the cancellation of the Reform Commission on Women Affairs' report on May 23 .

The announcement was made by Hefazat chief Muhibullah Babunagari while addressing a large rally held at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Saturday. The rally, organized by Hefazat-e-Islam, drew thousands of leaders and activists from across the country.

At the event, Maulana Mahfuzul Haque, the Nayeb-e-Ameer of the organization, read out a 12-point demand list. Central to the list was the call to abolish the interim government's Reform Commission on Women Affairs and to cancel its report. Hefazat demanded the formation of a new commission, led by Islamic scholars and devout female representatives, which would reflect reforms based on the country's own religious and cultural heritage, rather than being influenced by Western ideologies.

Another major demand was the reinstatement of the phrase “complete faith and trust in Allah” in the Constitution. Hefazat leaders urged the government to reject what they described as the “self-destructive” concept of pluralism. Additionally, they called for a ban on the Awami League and all its activities until those allegedly responsible for past crimes are prosecuted and punished.

During the rally, speakers strongly condemned any attempts to implement anti-Qur’an and anti-Sunnah policies in a country where, they noted, over 90 percent of the population are Muslims. They reiterated demands for justice over what they claim was a mass killing at the Shapla Chattar rally in Motijheel in 2013, during the tenure of the Awami League government.

The leaders also raised concerns over the lack of an investigation into the Shapla Chattar incident, contrasting it with the commissions formed for the BDR mutiny and the July movement. They criticized what they termed as the "fascist" regime of Sheikh Hasina, noting that while political cases against leaders of other parties have been withdrawn, cases filed against Hefazat leaders and activists remain unresolved. The immediate withdrawal of these cases was another key demand made at the rally.

Additionally, Hefazat called on the government to take a more active stance against what they described as “Muslim genocide and oppression” in Palestine and India. The speakers emphasized that Hefazat-e-Islam is ready to sacrifice their lives to protect Bangladesh’s sovereignty and independence but would not tolerate any actions that go against the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Saturday’s rally officially began at 9:00am and concluded by 1:00pm. Prior to the gathering, Hefazat activists held a procession in the Baitul Mukarram area of Dhaka, chanting slogans and calling on the public to join them in support of Islam and justice.

Among the prominent speakers at the event were Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh; Zainpuri Pir Dr. Enayetullah Abbasi; Hasnat Abdullah of the National Citizen Party; and Islamic scholar Mufti Fakhrul Islam.