2020 Hefazat Delegate Conference
On 15 November 2020, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh convened a delegate conference at Darul Uloom Hathazari in Chittagong—the first of its kind since the group's establishment in 2010. The conference took place in the aftermath of student protests in Hathazari and the death of the organization's long-time chief, Shah Ahmad Shafi. It unfolded amid an internal leadership dispute between two rival factions: one led by Secretary-General Junaid Babunagari, known for his opposition to the ruling Awami government, and the other aligned with Anas Madani, son of Shah Ahmad Shafi, who was perceived as supportive of the government. The Babunagari faction took control of the organization by forming a new 151-member central committee, appointing Babunagari as Amir, Nur Hossain Qasmi as Secretary-General, and Muhibbullah Babunagari as Chief Adviser. The opposing Madani faction rejected the legitimacy of this outcome and attempted to organize a parallel leadership structure with government support, but failed to gain widespread backing.
Background
Student Protests and the Death of Shah Ahmad Shafi
Following the Siege of Dhaka and the Shapla Square massacre on 5 May 2013, Hefazat received national and international attention. However, as the organization developed, a growing relationship between its founding Amir, Shah Ahmad Shafi, and the government led to internal divisions within Hefazat, with members splitting into pro-government and anti-government factions. Anas Madani, the son of Shafi, led the pro-government faction, while Junaid Babunagari represented the anti-government camp. Despite this division, the organization's activities were mostly limited to occasional processions, press statements, and the annual Shan-e Risalat conference, with no national delegate conference being held for nearly a decade. By 2020, as Shafi's health declined, tensions over leadership succession at Darul Uloom Hathazari escalated, leading to a conflict between Madani's and Babunagari's supporters. Babunagari was removed from his position as assistant director of the madrasa, a move attributed to Madani. In September 2020, after a six-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, student protests erupted when the madrasa reopened, prompting the Shura Committee to dismiss Madani from all his positions. Ahmad Shafi resigned and died shortly after. In response, Junaid Babunagari convened a national delegate conference, forming an 18-member preparatory committee to reorganize the leadership, and invited the families of those killed in the 6 May 2013 Hathazari incident. The conference appointed Muhibbullah Babunagari as its presiding figure.Awami government Interference
The ruling Awami League government reportedly imposed three conditions for allowing the conference to proceed. These conditions were: Hefazat must retain its identity as a non-political organization; it must not be used to serve the interests of any political party; and individuals associated with anti-independence groups—particularly from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami—must be excluded from leadership positions. It was suggested that failure to comply with these conditions could result in consequences for the organization. Additionally, the current leadership was advised to remain mindful of the past support extended by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Coordination of these arrangements was reportedly overseen by Najibul Bashar Maizbhandari, a leader of the Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and a key figure in the Awami League-led 14-party alliance.Opposition from the Madani Faction
On 30 September 2020, at a discussion event held at the Chittagong Press Club titled 'The Life, Work, and Legacy of Allama Ahmad Shafi,' Anas Madani—son of Ahmad Shafi and publicity secretary of Hefazat—asserted that the central committee formed under his father's leadership had not been officially dissolved, and therefore, the existing committee should continue. Madani's supporters claimed that Muhibbullah Babunagari had resigned from Hefazat long ago and was no longer a valid member, making the council held under his leadership illegitimate. In response, Junaid Babunagari stated that although Muhibbullah had announced his resignation, it had never been formally accepted, so he remained a legitimate member. The Madani faction further alleged that at least 50 members of the previous committee were not invited to the conference, while Babunagari's supporters argued that some individuals were excluded due to concerns about possible disruptions. On 13 November, leaflets were distributed at Darul Uloom Hathazari criticizing Babunagari and Mamunul Haque. Madani's followers claimed that Ahmad Shafi had approved a full committee before his death on 13 August, naming himself as Amir, Ahmad Didar Qasmi as Senior Deputy Amir, and Babunagari as Secretary General—adding that they possessed a six-page document bearing Babunagari's signature to support this claim. That same day, members of Islami Oikya Jote's student wing, Chhatra Khelafat, organized a protest in Chittagong's Jamal Khan area opposing the new conference, while on 14 November, Mufti Fayez Ullah held a press conference in Dhaka, publicly rejecting the conference as unilateral and illegitimate.Highlights
The conference began at 10:30 AM at Darul Uloom Hathazari, presided over by Muhibbullah Babunagari and conducted in two sessions. Several key figures associated with Anas Madani's faction, including Mufti Fayez Ullah and Moinuddin Ruhi, were absent. Around 370 ulama from various regions participated in the event. In the opening session, Junaid Babunagari formally announced the dissolution of the previous central committee. A group of twelve senior scholars was appointed to facilitate the formation of a new leadership structure through internal discussion and consensus. These members included Muhibbullah Babunagari, Nurul Islam Jihadi, Junaid Babunagari, Nur Hossain Qasmi, Yahya Alampuri, Abdul Awal, Mahfuzul Haque, Junaid Al Habib, Monir Hossain Qasmi, Azizul Haque Islamabadi, Nasir Uddin Munir, and Ataullah Hafezzi. After extended deliberations, a new 151-member committee was formed. The second session began at 2:00 PM, during which Mahfuzul Haque officially announced the names of 121 members, noting that the remaining 30 would be added later. Junaid Babunagari was appointed as the new Amir, and Nur Hossain Qasmi was named Secretary General. The leadership team also included 32 Deputy Amirs, 4 Joint Secretary Generals, 18 Assistant Secretary Generals, and an 81-member secretarial board. Muhibbullah Babunagari was named Chief Adviser, leading a 24-member advisory council. The conference concluded at 2:30 PM with a press briefing by Azizul Haque Islamabadi. The event was moderated by Mir Idris.The new committee excluded Anas Madani and several of his close allies. Among those removed were Abul Hasnat Amini, Acting Chairman of Islami Oikya Jote and General Secretary of Hefazat's Dhaka city unit; Mufti Fayez Ullah, Joint Secretary General of Hefazat and General Secretary of Islami Oikya Jote; and Moinuddin Ruhi, Joint Secretary General of Hefazat and President of Islami Oikya Jote's Chattogram unit. Vice President Abdul Quddus was also excluded. No representatives from Islami Andolan Bangladesh were included in the new committee. However, 22 members from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and 32 leaders from parties affiliated with the 20 Party Alliance—including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlis, and Nizam-e-Islam Party—were appointed. Additional individuals from Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan and Islami Oikya Jote were also included. Due to concerns about possible unrest, security was heightened with increased deployment of law enforcement and readiness of water cannons. Security personnel were stationed at key locations around Hathazari, including the bus terminal, market area, and medical gate. Despite these precautions, the event proceeded without incident, and participants left the venue peacefully.