Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh is an Islamic group in Bangladesh, formed in January 2010. This group was formed to protest against the anti-Islamic policies of the Bangladesh government. In 2013 they came to the limelight after holding a large gathering at Shapla Chattor, Motijhil.
This Islamic group was formed mainly with the teachers of Kawmi madrasas at Chittagong, Bangladesh. The formation was triggered by the 2009 Women Development Policy draft, which would have given women equal rights by inheritance. Ahmad Shafi, the director of Hathazari Madrasa and Mufti Izharul Islam, the chairman of the Islamist party “Islami Oikkya Jote”, are regarded as the founders of Hefajat-e-Islam, Bangladesh.
Within a month after formation, Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh started violence at Chittagong. They engaged thousands of madrasa students in this violence. They were protesting the secular education policy and demanded presence of religion-based politics. In 2011, Hefajat-e-Islam protested the proposed national women development policy, which includes equal rights for women. In 2013, Hefajat-e-Islam popped up and started protests against the Shahbag movement all on a sudden. On April 6, 2013, Hefajat-e-Islam organized a long march towards the Motijheel area in Dhaka from Chittagong, Sylhet and Rajshahi to push for their 13-point demand.
The main points of their 13 points are:
1. Restore the phrase ‘Complete faith and trust in the Almighty Allah’ in the constitution and repeal all the laws contrary to the Quran and Sunnah.
2. Pass a law in parliament keeping a provision of the maximum punishment of death sentence to prevent defaming Allah, the Islamic prophet Muhammad and Islam and smear campaigns against Muslims.
3. Take measures for stringent punishment against self-declared atheists and bloggers, led the so-called Shahbagh movement, and anti-Islamists who made derogatory remarks against Muhammad
4. Make Islamic education mandatory from primary to higher secondary levels cancelling the anti-religion education policy.
5. Stop setting up sculptures at intersections, schools, colleges and universities across the country.
6. Stop evil efforts to spread hatred in the mind of young generation regarding Islam through the misrepresentation of religious dresses and cultures in the media.
7. Stop anti-Islam activities by NGOs across the country, including in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and evil attempts of Christian missionaries for conversion.
On 11 April 2013, hearing by a false announcement from the local mosque, people including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefajat-e-Islam activists attacked on the Awami league rally. During the violent attack, three of the Awami League activists were killed, fifty more were injured.
On May 5, 2013, Hefajat-e-Islam again arranged a siege of the capital city in the demand of their 13-points. At least 18 people were killed during their violent protest. They attacked the Communist Party of Bangladesh's office at Motijheel. They also assaulted two on-duty television journalists working for private channel. Because of their violent act during the rally, top leaders of the Hefajat-e-Islam have been accused in 12 cases of murder, vandalism, arson and destruction of properties and other charges. In the early hours of 6 May, security forces of Bangladesh cracked down on Hefajat members at Motijheel. At this, several Hefajat members were killed and injured a lot.
Though, from the very first, Hefajat-e-Islam is claiming themselves as a non-political organization, they have failed to keep that image. They have started their movement in a very critical political atmosphere of the country. If they were non-violent in their movement, then they could have gain popularity in the political hard-time of Bangladesh.
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