Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Joint Secretary General, Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi, issued a statement on April 6, 2026, urging people to organize modest and shirk-free cultural rallies during the upcoming Pahela Baishakh celebrations. He noted that the Ministry of Culture decided to rename the traditional ‘Mangal’ and ‘Ananda’ processions as ‘Baishakhi Shovajatra’ and expressed doubt about how free the event would be from what he described as Hindu cultural influence.

In his statement, Islamabadi said that Islam does not oppose decent artistic or cultural practices as long as they do not conflict with the spirit of Tawheed. He emphasized that idol-making or displaying animal figures is fundamentally prohibited in Islam and encouraged Bengali Muslims to celebrate in a dignified manner that reflects their own cultural and religious identity. He also criticized what he called “Hindutvadi cultural fascism” and urged showcasing Muslim heritage, including symbols like horses, in cultural rallies.

Islamabadi further criticized secular cultural groups such as Udichi for promoting what he described as aggressive Bengali nationalism that excludes ethnic minorities, calling for a more inclusive and faith-conscious cultural expression.