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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.

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