Hefazat-e-Islam yesterday announced a 12-point declaration, demanding the dissolution of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission and cancellation of its report, which the platform says is "anti-Quran".

It called for the formation of a new commission comprising Islamic scholars and representatives from "devout segments of the female population".

Hefazat Nayeb-e-Ameer Mahfuzul Haque read out the declaration at a mammoth rally in the city's Suhrawardy Udyan. The demands include dissolution of the women's reform commission, withdrawal of cases against Hefazat leaders, a ban on the AL, and justice for those killed in its 2013 programme at Shapla Chattar.

Amid slogans from thousands of its leaders and activists, Hefazat Secretary General Sazidur Rahman announced a series of divisional conferences over the next three months "to establish fair rights of women" and a nationwide demonstration after Juma prayers on May 23.

The declaration states that women's social progress should not be dictated by Western values, but instead be based on the country's religious and cultural traditions.

Photo: Star

It called for reinstating "complete faith and trust in almighty Allah" in the constitution, urging the government to abandon what it described as the "suicidal concept" of pluralism and to protect the faith and religious practices of the devout Muslim population.

Hefazat also opposed the inclusion of terms such as "gender identity", "gender diversity", "gender equality", "gender discrimination", "third gender", and "other genders", arguing that these are used to promote LGBT and transgender inclusion under "ambiguous" slogans such as "leave no one behind" and "inclusive".

The group warned that these ideas could lead to a "destructive, anti-religious pro-homosexual society".

The group called for expediting the trial processes regarding the 2013 Shapla Chattar and July 2024 incidents. It also demanded that ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her "identified associates" be tried before the upcoming national election.

Labelling the Awami League as a "terrorist organisation," the declaration demanded a ban on all its activities until the judicial proceedings against it are complete.

The Qawmi madrasa-based organisation demanded that the interim government declare the "fascist" Awami League a criminal outfit, and ensure its trial for "mass killings" during the organisation's programme in 2013 and the July 2024 uprising.

The declaration includes a demand for a new law with the highest punishment for derogatory remarks about Allah and the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). The group opposed any recommendation from the Media Reform Commission to repeal existing blasphemy-related legal provisions.

It demanded the cancellation of bail granted to Chinmoy Das in the Saiful Islam Alif murder case in Chattogram and urged the withdrawal of all "false and fabricated" cases filed against Islamic scholars, madrasa students, and religious youth during the AL regime.

Photo: Star

The group called for exemplary punishment of those allegedly involved in the persecution and enforced disappearances of Islamic figures over the last 15 years.

Hefazat urged the government to raise its voice diplomatically against violence in Gaza and the persecution of Muslims in India. It also called for a boycott of Israeli and Indian products.

It demanded that the government make Islamic education mandatory at all levels.

The group condemned what it said was the government's "consent" to establish a "humanitarian corridor" to Myanmar's Rakhine State, terming it a "short-sighted and suicidal decision" that could compromise national security.

Regarding security issues, Hefazat demanded increased military presence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, stronger efforts to build harmony between Bengalee settlers and indigenous communities, and to ensure the safety of Islamists to preach in the hill tracts.

The platform also demanded that the "Qadianis" be declared non-Muslims at the state level and their activities be banned.

Hefazat Joint Secretary General Azizul Haque Islamabadi read out a statement from the organisation's Ameer Muhibbullah Babunagari at the rally that began at 9:00am.

Muhibullah said, "Anti-Islamic forces in the country are once again raising their heads. Recently, the Women's Affairs Reform Commission submitted a report that goes against the Quran. Infamous feminists, funded by imperialist donors, have taken to the field to implement a Western agenda aimed at destroying our social and religious values, rules, traditions, and family structure."

He warned the government against making any "reckless decisions under the influence of NGO-backed groups" -- decisions that contradict the Quran and Sunnah. "We will not make any compromises on this."

He said the Media Reform Commission has recommended removing the provisions related to punishment for religious defamation from the Penal Code and the Cyber Security Act, which he described as "another deep-rooted conspiracy".

"No one has the right to hurt the religious sentiments of either the majority or the minority," he said.

"Therefore, those legal provisions regarding punishment for religious defamation must remain intact, and the specific recommendations of the Media Reform Commission in this regard must be scrapped."

Hefazat circulated a leaflet at the rally, saying six points in the Women's Affairs Reform Commission's report were "against fundamental education and rules of Islam". It cited equal rights of man and woman, suggested by the commission in inheritance of property, as one of them.

It condemned the commission's proposal that says women are subjected to discrimination due to enforcement of religious laws in marriage, divorce, and alimony. Hefazat also slammed the commission for proposing to acknowledge sex workers as workers.

Hefazat Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque demanded that all cases filed against the organisation's leaders and activists be withdrawn within the next two months. "Otherwise, we'll do whatever we need to do."

Mamunul warned the government about its plan to open a humanitarian corridor in Rakhine.

"If any conspiracy is carried out to turn Bangladesh into a servant of Washington, if under the name of a 'humanitarian corridor' any effort is made to violate Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty, then I call upon the people of this country -- prepare for war, prepare to fight for your country."

At the rally, Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the daily Amar Desh, called on Chief Adviser Prof Yunus to abandon what he termed "unnecessary reform commissions", accusing them of wasting state resources and time.

He urged the government to focus solely on reforms that would prevent the return of fascism in Bangladesh.

"As a senior citizen of the country, I appeal to you not to create unnecessary issues. We've seen multiple reform commissions formed without any real need," he said. "These should be scrapped. We don't need them."

"While protesting smaller issues is important, it must not come at the cost of a larger movement," he cautioned.

Hasnat Abdullah, National Citizen Party's chief organiser for the Southern region, launched a scathing attack on the Awami League, calling for its complete ban and accusing it of being a "terrorist organisation".

He said that the people of Bangladesh had already "shown a red card" to any attempt to rehabilitate the party, referencing the events of August 5, 2024, as a turning point.

Hasnat also criticised Yunus for suggesting that the Awami League alone would decide whether it would contest in the next election.

"Let me remind you [Yunus]: it is we who put you in power. We will decide whether the Awami League contests or not," he said.

On the Women's Affairs Reform Commission, Hasnat urged the chief adviser to swiftly address public concerns.

Hefazat's central Nayeb-e-Ameer Mahmudur Hasan Kashemi, Nayeb-e-Ameer Ahmed Kashemi, among others, spoke at the rally.