Bangladesh will be cautious over key hard-line group
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Significance
Muhibbullah Babunagari represents a relatively moderate faction within the hard-line organisation. Junaid Babunagari was long hostile to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League (AL), but in June Hefazat announced a new central committee excluding individuals involved in violent protests earlier this year against Bangladesh's key partner India.
Impacts
- The authorities will allow protests by Hefazat over religious issues, provided the action does not hurt the government.
- Some Hefazat backers may be encouraged by the Taliban victory in Afghanistan, talking it up in support of their ideology.
- Factionalism within Hefazat will grow, resulting in the group's future direction becoming more unpredictable.