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Fayez Ullah (politician)

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Not to be confused with Muhammad Faizullah.
Fayez Ullah
ফয়জুল্লাহ
Ullah in 2018
Secretary-General of Islami Oikya Jote
In office
9 January 2013 – 9 August 2024
Preceded byAbdul Latif Nizami
Succeeded bySakhawat Hossain Razi
Personal details
BornRangunia, Chittagong
Alma materJamia Qurania Arabia Lalbagh
Personal life
NationalityBangladeshi
Parent
  • Muhammad Anwar (father)
Political partyIslami Oikya Jote
Main interest(s)Politics
Religious life
DenominationSunni
JurisprudenceHanafi
MovementDeobandi
Senior posting
Disciple ofFazlul Haque Amini
Websitemuftifayezullah.com

Fayez Ullah, commonly known as Mufti Fayez Ullah, is a Bangladeshi Islamic scholar and politician, known for his oratory skills and influence in Islamist politics as the leader of Islami Oikya Jote, where he served as Secretary-General for over a decade.[1] He was formerly the vice president of Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh, a founding member of Al-Haiatul Ulya Lil-Jamiatil Qawmia Bangladesh, and the Assistant Director of Jamia Qurania Arabia Lalbagh. He was a key figure in the 2013 Siege of Dhaka as joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, which culminated in the Shapla Square massacre. Following the incident, he was increasingly seen as aligned with the ruling Awami League government and associated with an internal faction of Hefazat led by Anas Madani, which advocated closer cooperation with state authorities and played a key role in improving ties between the government and the organization.[2] This alignment led to internal divisions within the organization, culminating in his removal from leadership during a 2020 delegate conference. Efforts to reorganize Hefazat under his and Madani's leadership did not materialize due to limited support. After the political shift marked by the fall of the Awami League in 2025, he was removed from Islami Oikya Jote and other positions, after which he largely disappeared from the public sphere.[3]

Personal life

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Fayez Ullah was born in Sharafbhata Union, under Rangunia Upazila in Chittagong District. His father's name is Muhammad Anwar Hossain. He has two brothers and one sister.[4] In 1987, he completed his Dawra-e-Hadith at Jamia Qurania Arabia Lalbagh, where he later began his professional career.[5] On 11 August 2021, he was appointed as the Assistant Director of the institution.[6] Earlier, in 2017, he was selected as a member of Al-Haiatul Ulya Lil-Jamiatil Qawmia Bangladesh, the highest regulatory authority for Qawmi madrasas in the country.[7] Additionally, on 7 October 2023, he was re-elected as a vice president during the 11th national council of Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh.[8]

Activities

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From Amini's Protégé to IOJ Secretary General

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Fayez Ullah Hosting an Iftar Party Chaired by Khaleda Zia, Leader of the BNP-led 20 Party Alliance

Fayez Ullah was a student and political associate of Fazlul Haque Amini.[5] Under Amini's leadership, he participated in various political and protest movements, including the national elections of 1988 and 1991, and the demonstrations against the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. During this time, he served as a member of the preparatory committee and head of the volunteer force for a protest march originating from Bangladesh.[5] He was also involved in movements opposing secular and atheist ideologies, including protests against Taslima Nasrin, where he acted as the organizing secretary of a coalition known as the Resistance Front. In the 1990s, he played a role in the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat campaign under Amini's leadership.[5]

In 2001, following a High Court verdict challenging the legality of religious fatwas, protests broke out, and he was appointed organizing secretary of the newly formed Islamic Law Implementation Committee.[5] That same year, he also became the organizing secretary of Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), which later joined the BNP-led four-party alliance.[9] After Amini's death in 2012, Fayez Ullah was elected secretary general of IOJ on 9 January 2013.[10] Under his leadership, the party withdrew from the BNP-led alliance, and he was re-elected to the same position on 7 January 2016.[11] During this period, he publicly criticized Awami League ally Hasanul Haq Inu, accusing him of fueling political unrest during the early 1970s.[12]

Ahead of the 2018 general election, reports indicated that IOJ, under Fayez Ullah's leadership, reached an informal understanding with the ruling Awami League.[13] Although the party did not formally join the Grand Alliance, it planned to contest the election cooperatively, requesting four parliamentary seats and reportedly receiving assurances for three. Internal discussions also took place about using the ruling party's electoral symbol. On 6 November 2018, twelve IOJ leaders attended a dialogue with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence and later welcomed the announcement of the election schedule.[13] However, the party ultimately did not participate due to unresolved seat-sharing disputes.[14]

In August 2020, internal tensions surfaced when party-affiliated activist Ashraf Mahdi alleged that Fazlul Haque Amini had been poisoned—a claim he made in social media posts where he also accused Fayez Ullah. Mahdi went missing later that month.[15] Despite these controversies, Fayez Ullah was reappointed as IOJ secretary general on 16 July 2023.[16] On 23 November 2023, he met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to discuss the upcoming national election,[17] though he himself did not take part in the polls, even though his party did.[18]

Role in Hefazat-e-Islam

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Fayez Ullah (left) introduces a committee during an ulama gathering in Rangunia, chaired by Shah Ahmad Shafi (center)

Fayez Ullah has been associated with Hefazat-e-Islam since its inception and was one of the main organizers of its 2013 movement. During this period, he served as the joint secretary general of the 101-member central committee. Following the Shapla Square massacre, some Hefazat leaders blamed him and Moinuddin Ruhi for the incident.[19] On 22 September 2013, the central Shura and executive committees of Hefazat-e-Islam were formed at an ulama conference held at Babunagar, but neither Fayez Ullah nor Moinuddin Ruhi were given any positions. In response, several ulama from Chittagong issued a statement demanding their inclusion and accused Izharul Islam Chowdhury and Azizul Haque Islamabadi of spreading false allegations against them.[20] After the Shapla Square incident, Hefazat's central office in Dhaka was relocated from Lalbagh Madrasa to Baridhara Madrasa. In 2016, due to internal power struggles, the Dhaka Hefazat committee split into two factions, with Fayez Ullah serving as the member secretary of one of the groups.[21] That year, Fayez Ullah opposed the creation process of the Fatwa of Peace for Humanity, arguing that it would not be acceptable because a large portion of the one hundred thousand signatories were not qualified Muftis.[22] In November 2018, he participated in the Shukrana Mahfil, where he expressed gratitude toward Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He acknowledged her recognition of Qawmi degree with respect to the Quran and Sunnah, describing her decisions as historic and transformative, which won the hearts of the country's religious scholars, students, and devout population.[23] However, these activities caused divisions within his organization, with many leaders and activists urging Hefazat to remain apolitical through social media and leaflets. Among those supporting him were Anas Madani, the organization's publicity secretary, and joint secretary general Moinuddin Ruhi. In contrast, senior deputy Amir Muhibbullah Babunagari announced his resignation from the organization.[14]

Impact of the Hathazari protest

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A student-led protest broke out at Darul Uloom Hathazari in 2020, demanding the removal of Anas Madani and Shah Ahmad Shafi from their respective positions. Following these events, Shah Ahmad Shafi died on 18 September 2020. Fayez Ullah publicly claimed that Shafi's death was premeditated and called for a judicial investigation to determine the circumstances.[24] After Shafi's death, Hefazat, under the leadership of the then Secretary General Junaid Babunagari, scheduled a delegate conference for 15 November 2020. Fayez Ullah criticized the decision, describing it as a conspiracy.[25][26] During the conference, he was formally removed from the organization, a decision he later rejected as illegitimate.[27][28] He subsequently attempted to form a parallel committee in collaboration with Anas Madani, but the effort failed due to lack of sufficient support.[29]

Repercussions of the July Revolution

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On 5 August 2024, Fayez Ullah was reportedly invited by the Chief of Army Staff to Bangabhaban for discussions concerning the Resignation of Sheikh Hasina and the potential formation of an interim government following the July Revolution. His attendance was criticized by Mamunul Haque and two other figures, who accused him of maintaining ties with the previous administration. Following this criticism, he ceased to participate in any further meetings at Bangabhaban.[30] Subsequently, on 9 August 2024, the Majlis-e-Shura of Islami Oikya Jote convened a session in Paltan, presided over by party chairman Abul Hasanat Amini, during which Fayez Ullah and Altaf Hossain were removed from their positions.[31] Later, on 27 December, Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh also dismissed him from its leadership after student protests called for his removal, citing his perceived association with the former government.[32]

Public statements

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Fayez Ullah Speaking at a Traditional Waz Mahfil

In 2014, BNP leader Tarique Rahman stated that religion should not be the basis for political parties. As a member of the BNP-led alliance, Fayez Ullah strongly criticized this comment, arguing that Rahman lacked an adequate understanding of Islamic principles and suggesting that he should uphold the values practiced by his father, former president Ziaur Rahman, during his time in power.[33] Fayez Ullah also publicly opposed the singing of the national anthem in Qawmi madrasas, citing two reasons: first, that Islamic education rooted in the Qur'an and Hadith should not begin with music; and second, that most Qawmi madrasas are mosque-centered institutions where musical performances are considered inappropriate. He further questioned whether Bangladesh's national anthem was written in the context of the country's independence or composed prior to its emergence.[34] In addition, he has called for legislation to punish acts of blasphemy, advocating for the inclusion of the death penalty in line with Islamic law, while clarifying that he does not support a separate blasphemy law and opposes individuals taking justice into their own hands.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Miazee, Manik (3 August 2017). "Hefazat takes the Tea Party route". Dhaka Tribune.
  2. ^ Khan, Nazmul A (13 October 2020). "All bets are off on Hefazat". The Daily Star.
  3. ^ Haque, Rakibul (10 March 2025). "Awami League-Aligned Clerics in Hiding". Amar Desh.
  4. ^ "Mufti Fayez Ullah's father passes away". Our Islam. 14 September 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e Ragib, Hammad (12 December 2018). "Amini: My life is filled with his memories - Mufti Fayez Ullah". Fateh24.com.
  6. ^ "Lalbagh Madrasa management committee nominated". Our Islam. 13 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Recognition of Qawmi education without reform". Prothom Alo. 16 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Befaq's 11th council held". Kaler Kantho. 8 October 2023.
  9. ^ Interview of Mufti Fayez Ullah (Video) (in Bengali). Munif Ammar. 12 July 2018.
  10. ^ a b Hossain, Chowdhury Akbar (12 January 2016). "We want to bring about an Islamic mass revolution: Mufti Fayez Ullah". Bangla Tribune.
  11. ^ "After leaving the BNP alliance, the Islamic Oikya Jote also broke up". Prothom Alo. 8 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Inu is the mastermind of militancy: Mufti Fayez Ullah". Bangla Tribune. 16 June 2016.
  13. ^ a b Hossain, Chowdhury Akbar (13 November 2018). "Islamic Oikya Jote is getting on the boat!". Bangla Tribune.
  14. ^ a b "Friendship with the government, dissatisfaction with Hefazat". Prothom Alo. 6 December 2018.
  15. ^ "Ashraf Mahdi released on condition of not writing on Facebook". The Daily Ittefaq. 11 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Hasanat-Fayez Ullah again lead Islamic Oikya Jote". Jugantor. 16 July 2023.
  17. ^ "14 leaders of 9 Islamic parties in Ganabhaban". The Sangbad. 24 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Three leaders of two Qawmi Islamic parties in the election". Prothom Alo. 1 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Ruhi not included in Hefazat committee". Bdnews24.com. 21 September 2013.
  20. ^ "'Top Ulama' want Ruhi-Faizullah". Bdnews24.com. 22 September 2013.
  21. ^ Hossain, Chowdhury Akbar (24 March 2016). "Dhaka's Hefazat splits into two groups due to power struggle". Bangla Tribune.
  22. ^ Kallol, Kadir (22 June 2016). "Questions over the validity of anti-militancy fatwa". BBC Bangla.
  23. ^ Hossain, Chowdhury Akbar (4 November 2018). "Qawmis want to see Sheikh Hasina back in power". Bangla Tribune.
  24. ^ "Ahmed Shafi was murdered in a planned manner". Samakal. 14 November 2020.
  25. ^ Swapan, Harun Ur Rashid (13 November 2020). "Are pro-government supporters cornered in Hefazat?". Deutsche Welle.
  26. ^ "Shafi's followers call the Delegate conference illegal". Jugantor. 14 November 2020.
  27. ^ Chowdhury, Pavel Haider (16 November 2020). "Hefazat Split". Desh Rupantor.
  28. ^ "Shafiites excluded, Babunagari-Qasmi are the leaders of Hefazat". The Daily Ittefaq. 16 November 2020.
  29. ^ Zahid, Salim (22 April 2021). "Hefazat is somewhat disoriented due to pressure and controversy". Prothom Alo.
  30. ^ Anam, Alfaz (23 December 2024). "When the President's Hands Shook Inside Bangabhaban". Amar Desh.
  31. ^ "Fayez Ullah and Altaf Ousted from Islami Oikya Jote Leadership". Daily Naya Diganta. 9 August 2024. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024.
  32. ^ Mamun, Kamruzzaman (27 December 2024). "Befaq Dismisses Mufti Fayez Ullah Over Charges of Fascist Affiliation". Somoy TV.
  33. ^ "Unease among Islamists in BNP alliance over Tariq's statement". Prothom Alo. 6 September 2014.
  34. ^ "'We have our own opinion on singing the national anthem'". Bangla Tribune. 14 March 2021.
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