Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Amir Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari has declared that voting for Jamaat-e-Islami is religiously forbidden, calling it 'haram' and 'not permissible in any way.' He made the statement on Thursday night at a religious event marking the completion of Bukhari Sharif at Kazi’s Hat Boro Madrasa in Fatikchhari, Chattogram. During the same event, Babunagari announced a 'jihad' against Jamaat-e-Islami and publicly endorsed BNP’s paddy-sheaf symbol candidate, Md. Sarwar Alamgir, for the Chattogram-2 (Fatikchhari) constituency.

His remarks quickly stirred widespread discussion in local political circles and on social media. While some users supported his statement, most online comments criticized the language and the mixing of religious messages with politics. Several observers described the remarks as potentially provocative for the election environment, and local political actors speculated that the statement could alter the electoral dynamics in the constituency.

As of publication, Jamaat-e-Islami and other concerned parties had not issued any immediate response to Babunagari’s comments.