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Published : 15 Nov 2020, 02:18 PM
The announcement came from a conference on Sunday amid opposition from the followers of the late amir Shah Ahmed Shafi.
The conference started at Hathazari Madrasa in Chattogram on Sunday morning. Organising Secretary Azizul Haque Islamabadi said the new committee was officially announced in front of reporters. He retained the same position.
Babu Nagari was secretary general and Kashemi Nayeb-e-Amir, or deputy chief, on Shafi’s committee.
About 500 people, including district representatives of the organisation, were invited to the conference. The new committee was assembled at the behest of a 15-strong Shura Committee comprising senior members of the organisation.
Babu Nagari is a nephew of the organisation's Nayeb-e-Amir, Mohibullah Babu Nagari. Mohibullah is also a member of the Najirhat Al Jamiya Ala Arabia Nasirul Islam Madrassa's governing Shura council and the Muhtamim, or administrator, of Fatikchhari Babunagar Madrassa.
Shafi was the Muhtamim of the madrasa where the conference was held - Al Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Madrasa. He died on Sep 18, a day after losing control of the Hathazari madrasa in Chattogram
Shafi’s followers complained that they were not invited to the conference and claimed that the conference had no legal grounds to decide the new leadership of Hifazat-e Islam.
In a press briefing on Saturday, Md Moin Uddin, the brother-in-law to Shafi, said the control of the ‘apolitical’ organisation which Shafi had built was being passed to supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP in a planned way.
The conflict became more apparent when the followers of Babu Nagari cited Shafi’s old age to press for a successor to Shafi at Hathazari madrasa.
Babu Nagari’s claim to the reins triggered a row with Shafi’s son Anas Madani. As unrest grew within the organisation, the committee sacked Anas as assistant director on Jun 17.
Qawmi madrasas are allowed to hold bachelor's and master's examinations upon following the health protocols while the other institutions have remained shut since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The madrasa reopened after six months of closure in September
The protest for the removal of Anas came on the heels of a row between the Shafi loyalists and the supporters of Babu Nagari.
The dispute between supporters of Shafi and Babu Nagari burst into public view when the Shura Committee replaced the former assistant director Nagari with Sheikh Ahmed in June.
Hundreds of students demonstrated on Chattogram-Khagrachhari Road and vandalised the offices of Anas and Sheikh inside the madrasa demanding removal of Anas.
Tension rose over the leadership struggle as Shafi fell ill several times. He stepped down as the chief before getting admitted to the hospital on Sep 17.
The presence of top Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in the funeral prayers of Shafi sparked discussion over Babu Nagari’s association with the Jamaat-e-Islami
He returned to Hathazari madrasa following Shafi’s death and his followers moved on creating new leadership for the organisation.
Having remained inactive for a long time, the Hifazat-e Islami members led by Babu Nagari and Kashemi took to the streets to protest against French cartoons on Prophet Muhammad.
