Leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam have called on BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and poet-thinker Farhad Mazhar to publicly apologize for their perceived support of Bauls amid ongoing tensions over religious and cultural issues. Speaking at a protest rally near Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka, Hefazat leaders warned that if the government does not change its position on the Baul issue, they will launch a larger nationwide movement. Dhaka city Amir Junaid Al Habib criticized both Fakhrul and Mazhar, demanding legal action or even arrest if they refuse to apologize. Other Hefazat leaders accused Baul supporters of undermining Islamic identity and cautioned that those prioritizing Bengali ethnicity over Muslim identity would face political resistance. The rally also demanded the withdrawal of cases against anti-Baul protesters and the arrest of accused Bauls, threatening mosque-based protests if their demands are ignored.