Navigating Transformation: The Challenges and the Future Trajectories of Hefazat-e-Islam in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study critically examines Hefazat-e-Islam’s (HI) role and challenges within Bangladesh’s evolving sociopolitical context. Drawing on in-depth interviews and secondary sources, it explores how HI navigates tensions among religious authority, political activism, and contested public opinion. As a prominent representative of conservative Islamic constituencies, HI occupies a significant yet contested position in the public sphere. Yet it faces multiple challenges, including internal fragmentation, leadership crises, and external pressures such as state regulation, negative media coverage, and global Islamophobic discourses. Situating the analysis within broader debates on political Islam, the study demonstrates how HI responds to shifting government policies, international counterterrorism frameworks, and local dynamics of religious mobilization. It also assesses the organization’s potential future trajectories, including institutional political participation, coalition-building, continued reliance on street-based activism, and the risk of increased polarization. The findings highlight the complex relationship between religious authority and political power, showing how HI adapts to uncertainty while seeking to expand its influence. The study contributes to discussions on democracy, religious pluralism, and social cohesion in Bangladesh.