Hefazat-e-Islam held a protest march and rally in Rajshahi, demanding a state ban on the controversial organization “Heybut Tawhid” and protesting the persecution of Muslims in India, alleged killings, the demolition of mosques and madrasas, alleged illegal push-ins at the border, and the construction of idols at Gaibandha.
The protest march began after Friday (June 12) prayers from the Zero Point area of the city’s Saheb Bazar, organized by the Rajshahi metropolitan and district units of Hefazat-e-Islam. The march circled major roads of the city before returning to Zero Point, where it ended with a brief rally.
Speakers at the rally said: “The people of Bangladesh no longer have time to sleep; everyone must wake up. The neighboring state of India is now behaving like Israel. This is the right time to protest the brutal oppression being carried out against Muslims there.”
Criticizing India’s Modi government, they said: “Muslims are being mocked in that country, mosques and madrasas are being vandalized, and attempts are being made to push people illegally into Bangladesh through various points along the border. These illegal push-ins and this assault on Bangladesh’s sovereignty can in no way be accepted.”
Expressing anger over the country’s current political situation and border security, the speakers said: “After the July-August uprising, we thought the country would be reformed. But now, in the name of reform, attempts are being made to enact laws contrary to the Quran and Sunnah, which the faithful will not accept.”
Drawing the attention of Prime Minister Tareque Rahman and the home minister, the speakers said: “Even so many years after independence, our BGB at the border has not been given modern weapons. The country cannot be protected from Indian aggression with toy weapons that are 50 years old. To protect Bangladesh, the most modern weapons must be placed in the hands of BGB members at the border without delay.”
The speakers further said: “The prices of essential goods that were raised in the budget for the current 2026-27 fiscal year must be brought within reach of ordinary people without delay. If looting is carried out like the previous government, the people of the country will resist it.”
Saying that the feelings of the faithful had been hurt by the construction of idols at Gaibandha, the speakers said: “Heybut Tawhid is a controversial and criticized faith-based reformist organization in Bangladesh. This organization is destroying the faith and beliefs of Muslims and is trying to create disorder in society. It must therefore be banned by the state without delay. At the same time, the installation of idols by the Hindutva group ISKCON in various places across the country must be firmly stopped.”
The program ended peacefully with a warning of tougher protests if the demands were not met.
Those present at the protest march and rally included Mufti Jamir Hossain Jamiri, president of the Rajshahi metropolitan Khelafat Majlis; joint secretary Hafez Maulana Abdullah Talha; youth affairs secretary Mir Farhad; Mufti Kamruzzaman, youth affairs secretary of the Rajshahi district unit of Hefazat-e-Islam; member Hafez Maulana Hossain Ahmed Dewan; and student affairs member Hafez Maulana Abdullah.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report