The Ministry of Home Affairs officially designated Mamunul Haque as one of 15 controversial speakers in April 2019, following his rhetoric during religious sermons. Born in November 1973 in Azimpur, Dhaka, Haque has built a career as an Islamic scholar, politician, and educator, eventually rising to prominence as a central figure within the Khelafat Majlis and Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh organizations.
Educational Background and Early Career
The fourth of thirteen siblings, Haque received early instruction from his father, Azizul Haque, who was the first Bengali translator of Sahih al-Bukhari. By age 12, he had memorized the Quran at the Lalbagh Chantara Jame Masjid Madrasa. He later attended Jamia Rahmania Arabia, earning a postgraduate degree in Hadith in 1996. Beyond his theological training, he holds both a BA and an MA in economics from the Asian University of Bangladesh. His professional path included teaching stints at Sirajganj Jamia Nizamiya Bethua Madrasa and Mirpur Jamiul Uloom Madrasa before he returned to Jamia Rahmania as a Hadith instructor in 2000. In 2015, he founded Mahadut Tarbiyatul Islamia to support higher Islamic education and research.
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Haque’s political involvement deepened after his arrest in Khulna on 12 May 2013, following a siege in Dhaka. At that time, he was the president of the Bangladesh Khilafat Jubo Majlis and an official with the Dhaka metropolitan branch of Hefazat-e-Islam. His period of incarceration increased his profile within religious grassroots movements. By 2020, he had become a leading voice in the Junaid Babunagari faction of Hefazat-e-Islam. In October 2020, he was elected Secretary-General of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, and by November of that same year, he attained the position of Joint Secretary-General of Hefazat-e-Islam. Following the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina regime, he participated in governmental discussions with President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief of Army Staff Waker-Uz-Zaman, contributing to the formation of the Yunus ministry.
Controversies and Public Standing
Throughout his career, Haque has faced significant opposition regarding his hardline stance on Sharia law and social policy. In late 2020, his public condemnation of the construction of a sculpture of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ignited intense backlash from the Awami League and affiliated groups, leading to protests and threats against him. In 2025, he campaigned against the interim government's Women's Affairs Reform Commission, advocating for limits on female participation in public life. These positions have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and secular activists, who label his rhetoric as exclusionary. In the 2026 Bangladeshi general election, he contested the Dhaka-13 constituency but was defeated by Bobby Hajjaj, after which Haque alleged that irregularities in ballot design had negatively impacted his result.
Fast facts
- Born: November 1973, Azimpur, Dhaka
- Citizenship: Bangladesh
- Father: Azizul Haque
- Political Party: Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis
- Notable Publications: Rahmani Paigam (Editor)
- 2026 Election Constituency: Dhaka-13
- Languages: Bangla
Questions readers ask
What is Mamunul Haque’s academic background?
He holds a postgraduate degree in Hadith and both a BA and MA in economics from the Asian University of Bangladesh.
What was his role in the 2020 sculpture protests?
He led opposition to the construction of a sculpture of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, labeling such practices un-Islamic and threatening to mobilize protests to prevent their installation.
