Maulana Shariful Islam of Islami Andolan joins Jamaat

A leader of Islami Andolan Bangladesh has sparked discussions in the political arena in Porsha Upazila of Naogaon. Maulana Shariful Islam, the education and cultural affairs secretary of the Porsha Upazila branch of Islami Andolan, has officially joined Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. He joined Jamaat-e-Islami politics by filling out the membership form on Tuesday.

Maulana Shariful Islam has been teaching as a lecturer in the Arabic department of Barinda Fazil Madrasa in Porsha Upazila for a long time. He is also known locally as a well-known religious and social figure. Various discussions have started in the political and religious arena in the area around his change of party.

Explaining his position on leaving the Islamic Andolan and joining Jamaat, Maulana Shariful Islam said that some activities and behavior within the Islamic Andolan have deeply disappointed him. He claimed that some party leaders do not hesitate to publicly abuse big scholars and Huzoors. Such behavior did not seem acceptable to him as a religious person.

He also said that he was angry and distressed after seeing the overall activities and organizational etiquette of the party leaders and activists. He said that these were the reasons why he decided to leave the Islamic Movement and join Jamaat-e-Islami.

According to local political observers, the change of party of an educated scholar and organizationally responsible leader can create a new equation in the politics of Porsha Upazila. Many believe that this joining, especially in religion-based politics, will strengthen Jamaat-e-Islami organizationally.