2025 Hefazat Grand Rally

On 3 May 2025, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh held a grand rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This event was one of their biggest public shows of strength and marked the second-largest gathering in Dhaka since the 2013 Long March and Siege of Dhaka, which culminated in the Shapla Square massacre. The central themes of the rally included demands for justice regarding the 2013 events, the withdrawal of criminal cases filed against its leadership during Sheikh Hasina's regime, and the dissolution of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission—an initiative introduced by the Yunus interim government following the July Revolution. The group also called for constitutional amendments to reaffirm full trust and faith in Allah while rejecting pluralism, and it criticized the treatment of Muslim populations in India and Palestine. Chaired by Muhibbullah Babunagari, the rally concluded with a 12-point declaration and the announcement of a nationwide protest scheduled for 23 May, along with divisional programs to follow.

On 28 March 2025, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh convened an emergency meeting of its central private committee in Dhaka, chaired by Sajidur Rahman.^[1] During the session, the organization decided to hold a grand rally to demand justice for several incidents, including the Shapla Square massacre, the Pilkhana massacre, victims of the anti-Modi protests, the student-led anti-fascist movement, and the withdrawal of all cases allegedly filed against Hefazat members during the tenure of the Awami League (2009 – 2024), which the organization characterized as a 'fascist regime.' The meeting further resolved to submit a proposal to the interim government seeking a ban on the Awami League, citing findings of a United Nations fact-finding mission.^[2] On 8 April, the first meeting of the rally organizing committee was held, with Junaid Al Habib appointed as its convener.^[3] The committee resolved that central leaders would travel to all eight divisions of the country to ensure the success of the planned grand rally.^[4] Subsequently, on 15 April, the organization held a special session in Chittagong, during which it was decided that the central executive committee would meet on 20 April in Dhaka to finalize plans for the rally, including announcements with invited guests.^[5]

On 19 April, the Women's Affairs Reform Commission submitted its report to the chief advisor of the interim government.^[6] The report identified religious legal frameworks as being behind gender inequality and included proposals such as equal inheritance rights for women, banning polygamy, recognizing sex workers as laborers, and ensuring equal rights for men and women in various sectors.^[7][8] After its publication, plans for the grand rally gained momentum.^[9] Hefazat leaders strongly opposed the report, labeling it as contrary to Islamic principles.^[9] On 20 April, Hefazat held an emergency meeting of its central executive committee at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) in Dhaka, presided over by Muhibbullah Babunagari. Secretary-General Sajidur Rahman officially announced the rally and outlined a public outreach campaign to be conducted from 22 to 28 April, including protest demonstrations after Friday prayers on 25 April in all districts and sub-districts.^[10] On 22 April, a Hefazat delegation led by Harun Izhar met with legal advisor Asif Nazrul to demand the withdrawal of what the organization described as politically motivated and harassing cases against its leaders.^[11][12] Between 5 May 2013, and 26 March 2021, at least 203 such cases were reportedly filed.^[13] On 29 April, Hefazat held a press conference in Khilgaon, Dhaka, outlining four primary demands: cancellation of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission and its report, reinstatement of full trust and faith in Allah in the constitution in place of pluralism, withdrawal of politically motivated cases, and justice for victims of mass killings, including the Shapla Square massacre, as well as an end to violence against Muslims in Palestine and India.^[14] In preparation for the rally, Hefazat leaders organized consultations, distributed leaflets, staged roadside gatherings, and led motorcycle processions.^[15] On 2 May, a mass march and a protest rally were held near the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.^[16][17] In response to speculation about negotiations with the government, senior Hefazat leader Mamunul Haque stated, 'There is no room for negotiation in this regard.'^[18]

On May 3, from early morning, supporters of Hefazat began gathering at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka, arriving from various districts across the country in organized processions. The influx of participants caused traffic disruptions in Shahbag and surrounding areas.^[19] The rally formally commenced at 9:00 a.m. with a recitation from the Quran.^[20] By 10:00 a.m., the main venue was nearly full, prompting attendees to occupy nearby areas such as Ramna Park, the Matsya Bhaban intersection, and the surroundings of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.^[21] Participants carried flags of Palestine and Bangladesh, as well as banners with Islamic inscriptions,^[22] and chanted slogans opposing the interim government, the Women's Affairs Reform Commission, and calling for legal action against Sheikh Hasina.^[23] Mahmudur Rahman of Amar Desh and NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah attended in solidarity.^[21] Hefazat volunteers managed traffic control and maintained cleanliness in the nearby Dhaka University area.^[24] Hefazat leaders stated that policies contrary to the Quran and Sunnah would not be accepted in a Muslim-majority country. They opposed any law perceived to contradict Islamic principles and demanded the immediate dissolution of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission along with its report. They also called for judicial proceedings for the Shapla Square massacre and demanded that all legal cases against Hefazat members be withdrawn within two months. Additional demands included the prosecution of Sheikh Hasina and a ban on the Awami League's political activities. Speakers also urged the interim government to refrain from allowing a humanitarian corridor in Rakhine, Myanmar.^[25] During the rally, Mahmudur Rahman asserted that the July revolution martyrs had fought not for a women's commission but to free Bangladesh from authoritarian rule.^[26] Hasnat Abdullah rejected any potential political reintegration of the Awami League and demanded capital punishment for Sheikh Hasina.^[27] Enayetullah Abbasi called for legislation against blasphemy and legal action against individuals associated with the women's commission.^[28] Ahmad Abdul Qader warned that Hefazat's mobilization could destabilize the current administration.^[22] Mamunul Haque reiterated that Islam and national independence were interconnected and called for resistance against perceived anti-Islamic elements.^[29] The event was presided over by Muhibbullah Babunagari, with a written statement delivered on his behalf by Azizul Haque Islamabadi. The statement reaffirmed opposition to any legislation against Islamic teachings and called for the reformation of the women's commission. It also emphasized Hefazat's stated support for women's rights within an Islamic framework.^[30] Mahfuzul Haque then read out a 12-point declaration.^[31] Secretary-General Sajidur Rahman announced two upcoming programs: (1) nationwide protests on May 23 to press for four core demands and (2) divisional-level rallies over the next three months to address women's rights issues.^[21] The rally concluded at 1:11 p.m. with a prayer led by Babunagari.^[31] The event was moderated by Azizul Haque Islamabadi and Kefayetullah Azhari.^[31]

The twelve-point declaration is:^[25]

1. The Women's Affairs Reform Commission and its report, described by the organizers as contrary to Islamic teachings, should be immediately annulled. A new commission should be formed in consultation with religious scholars and representatives from devout segments of the female population. Reforms concerning women's social development should reflect indigenous religious and cultural values rather than Western ideologies.
2. The Constitution should reinstate a clause affirming absolute trust and faith in Allah. The government is urged to move away from what the declaration terms 'self-destructive pluralism.' It also opposes the use of terminology such as gender identity, gender diversity, gender equality, and third gender, which it associates with the promotion of LGBT and transgender rights. The declaration calls for a halt to what it views as attempts to institutionalize such ideologies under inclusive or non-communal slogans.
3. The government should strengthen judicial capacity to expedite trials related to the Shapla Square massacre and the July 2021 protests. It demands that legal proceedings against Sheikh Hasina and her associates be completed prior to the national elections.
4. The former ruling Awami League is labeled a "fascist" and "terrorist" organization in the declaration. It calls for the party to be banned and prosecuted, and for its political activities to be suspended until legal accountability is ensured.
5. Strict legislation should be enacted to criminalize derogatory remarks about Allah and the Prophet Muhammad. The declaration criticizes previous recommendations to remove legal provisions addressing religious defamation and demands their retention without compromise.
6. The bail of Chinmoy Das, accused of inciting communal tensions leading to the death of Saiful Islam in Chittagong, should be revoked and legal action must be taken.
7. The interim government is urged to withdraw or resolve what are described as false and politically motivated cases filed during the tenure of the previous administration against Islamic scholars, madrasa students, and conservative youth activists. Additionally, it calls for the prosecution of those responsible for alleged misuse of counterterrorism operations to suppress Islamic groups.
8. The government should adopt a stronger diplomatic stance against what the declaration identifies as genocide by Israel in Gaza and the persecution of Muslims in India. Citizens are encouraged to boycott Israeli and Indian products as a form of protest.
9. Given the Muslim majority in the country, Islamic education should be made compulsory at all levels, from primary to higher education.
10. The decision to allow a humanitarian corridor in Rakhine, Myanmar, is described as strategically detrimental. The government is called upon to reverse this policy in the interest of national security.
11. The government should take measures to curb the activities of foreign missionary groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The declaration emphasizes the need to safeguard national territorial integrity and suggests facilitating Islamic missionary work in the region. It also recommends enhancing military presence and expanding government efforts to foster social and political reconciliation among ethnic and indigenous communities.
12. The Qadiani should be officially declared non-Muslim and banned from operating as a religious group in Bangladesh. The declaration claims this is necessary to protect the beliefs of mainstream Muslims.

The rally drew attention from both domestic and international media outlets. Descriptions ranged from a 'massive turnout' to metaphors like a 'human ocean,'^[23][32] with some international reports characterizing it as one of the biggest public shows of strength.^[33] According to BBC Bangla, it was the second-largest gathering organized by Hefazat in the capital since the 2013 rally.^[21] The Daily Star published an editorial expressing alarm over the call to abolish the Commission and the use of inflammatory language during the event.^[34] Meanwhile, Ajker Patrika reported that authorities had initiated the process of withdrawing 203 legal cases against Hefazat members, citing police sources who indicated the process would be completed within three months.^[35] In a report by Prothom Alo, it was suggested that the timing and scale of the rally were partly intended to signal the political relevance of Hefazat's leadership ahead of the upcoming national elections.^[36]

Controversy emerged on social media following an incident at Dhaka University's TSC, where rally participants reportedly struck a hanging portrait of a woman with shoes and removed a sari from it, which received widespread criticism online. Subsequent investigations clarified that the effigy was not intended to represent women in general, but was symbolically associated with Sheikh Hasina, whom participants accused of ordering past crackdowns on Islamist demonstrators;^[37] however, Hefazat denied any involvement in the incident.^[38] Fawzia Karim Firoze, a member of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission, described the rally as a means of exerting psychological pressure on the government and characterized the overall atmosphere as one of anxiety or unease.^[9]

The Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist) stated that the demand to abolish the Women's Affairs Reform Commission contradicted the ideals of the July Revolution.^[39] Umama Fatema, spokesperson for the Students Against Discrimination, argued that if the recommendations of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission were to be nullified, the legitimacy of reports from other reform commissions could also come into question.^[40] Rifat Rashid, joint secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), criticized some of the rhetoric used about women during the rally, deeming it inappropriate.^[41] In response to the rally, a coalition of 67 humanitarian organizations—including Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Ain o Salish Kendra, BRAC, Women for Women, Concern Worldwide, Oxfam, ActionAid, Acid Survivors Foundation, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Save the Children and Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi—issued a statement criticizing Hefazat's stance on the Women's Affairs Reform Commission. They denounced the group's rhetoric as irrational and raised concerns about the government's silence on the matter. The statement also described Hefazat's leadership using terms such as 'misogynistic,' 'religious opportunists,' and 'fundamentalists.'^[42] Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB) condemned the group's demand for a blasphemy law as incompatible with human rights principles.^[43]

Political analysts noted the participation of NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah in the rally as potentially signaling a broader alignment between Islamic groups and the NCP;^[44] the next day, Hasnat Abdullah was attacked in Gazipur.^[45] The Samakal raised the question of whether the NCP's participation was an attempt to exert influence over Hefazat. Some analysts suggest that in trying to influence Hefazat, the NCP might, in turn, be more susceptible to Hefazat's influence.^[46] Additionally, six women's rights activists, including three affiliated with the NCP, issued legal notices to Hefazat, accusing the organization of making defamatory remarks about women during the rally.^[47] In response, Hefazat issued a statement on 6 April expressing regret and clarifying that it did not endorse offensive language toward women, while also calling on secular individuals to refrain from using disparaging terms for religious scholars.^[48]

A lawyer from the Bangladesh Supreme Court, Rowshan Ali, filed a petition with the High Court seeking the formation of an expert committee to review portions of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission's report and also challenged the legality of certain recommendations made by the commission.^[49]