Hefazat‑e‑Islam Ameer Allama Muhibullah Babunagari has said that it is not permissible for Muslims to vote for Jamaat‑e‑Islami. He made the remarks on Thursday night after the completion of a Bukhari Sharif recitation at Kazi’s Hat Boro Madrasa in Fatikchhari upazila.

A video of his comments began circulating on social media on Friday.

Speaking in the presence of BNP‑nominated candidate for the Chattogram‑2 (Fatikchhari) constituency, Sarwar Alamgir, Babunagari said Muslims should be told clearly that casting votes for Jamaat‑e‑Islami is not religiously allowed, describing it as forbidden.

Referring to Sarwar Alamgir during his speech, Babunagari said Hefazat was standing with him in what he described as a struggle against the Jamaat founded by Abul Ala Maududi. He stated that he does not view the process as an election but as a form of religious struggle.

He further claimed that if Jamaat‑e‑Islami were to come to power, the foundations of Islam and faith would be undermined. During his remarks, he also used a highly derogatory term to describe the party.

This is not the first time the Hefazat Ameer has made strong public statements regarding Jamaat‑e‑Islami, having issued similar comments on multiple occasions in the past.