Chittagong’s new Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin has met and ‘sought blessings’ of Hifazat-e Islam chief Shah Ahmad Shafi, who has drawn much flak for his anti-woman rant.
Shafi also criticised Bangladesh’s policy of ‘secularism’ at a programme on Friday at his Hathazari madrasa.
Awami League’s city unit General Secretary Nasir defeated BNP-endorsed M Manjur Alam in the Apr 28 polls.
He told bdnews24.com he had attended Friday’s programme at the madrasa to seek Shafi’s blessings.
Munir Ahmed, press secretary to the Hifazat chief, said Nasir had offered the weekly prayers at the madrasa. He later ‘exchanged greetings’ with Shafi and attended a luncheon.
“He participated in the ‘Dua-Mahfil’ (prayer programme) before leaving in the afternoon,” Ahmed added.
Shafi, in the programme, alleged people were being pushed away from religion in the name of secularism.
Hifazat, in a statement quoting its chief, claimed there were ‘conspiracies’ in Bangladesh against Islam and Muslims.
According to him, various Islamic rules were being ‘misinterpreted’.
“What is more worrying is that many senior government officials openly incite these anti-Islam activities along with atheists and various organisations,” the statement quoted him as saying.
Secularism was one of the four basic principles in the Constitution after independence. Although the military government removed it, the Awami League restored the principle in 2009.
Qawmi madrasa-based Hifazat has been opposing secularism and has hit the streets protesting against various state policies.
Its activists caused heavy damage in Dhaka on May 5, 2013 when the group took position at Motijheel opposing the national women’s policy.
Shafi, a hardliner, last year told a programme in Cox’s Bazar that ‘slaying atheists had become ‘Wazib’ (something which is more important than Sunnah)’.
At least four secular bloggers have been hacked to death since February 2013.
About meeting Shafi, Mayor Nasir said they offered prayers together and had lunch.
“I went to [meet] him. I spoke with him and sought his blessings…
“He asked me to work for the people and said he would assist me,” he told bdnews24.com.
Source: Bd news24
