Terming Social Welfare Minister Mohsin Ali “anti-Islam,” leaders of Qawmi madrasa-based platform Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh yesterday demanded his immediate removal from the cabinet for delivering “insulting speech on women wearing burqa.”
In a joint statement, signed among others by Secretary General Junaid Babunagari, radical Islamist group Hefazat said the “illiterate” and “anti-Islam” minister had hurt the religious sentiment of the country’s 92% Muslims and that it would not be tolerated.
The minister at a discussion on January 28 in Moulvibazar allegedly said girls wearing burqa could not be college students.
By making the women “unveiled,” Hefazat claims that a conspiracy was on to turn the country into one like the “uncivilised western society.”
Chittagong’s Hathazari Madrasa-based Hefazat created much hype early 2013, during the Shahbagh movement, by coming up with their 13-point demands including formation of a blasphemy law and opposing free mingling of men and women. The government, however, said the demands were contrary to the country’s constitution and culture.
All but the two top leaders of the platform – chief Ahmed Shafi and Babunagari – are also leaders of BNP-led 20-party alliance.