Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir after he was elected president of Bangladesh. The organisation’s amir, Allama Muhibbullah Babunagari, and secretary general, Allama Sazedur Rahman, conveyed their greetings in a statement sent to the media on Friday. The report describes Fakhrul as a former BNP secretary general and former minister.

In the statement, Hefazat leaders said they hoped he would uphold faith in Allah, justice, fairness and public welfare while carrying out his constitutional responsibilities. They also said they expected him to play a positive and responsible role in protecting the religious sentiments of the country’s Muslim majority, Islamic values, and the dignity and rights of religious scholars.

The leaders expressed hope for more cordial relations between the state’s highest level and Islamic scholars, with their views on religious matters receiving due importance. They said his presidency could strengthen justice, peace, mutual respect, religious harmony and public welfare, while protecting sovereignty and fostering political goodwill. Hefazat also wished him good health, long life and success.