Muhibbullah Babunagari

Muhibbullah Babunagari (born 15 February 1934) is a Bangladeshi Islamic scholar. He is the current and 3rd amir of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, rector of Al-Jamiatul Islamiah Azizul Uloom Babunagar. He also held leading positions in Islami Oikya Jote, Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh and Al-Haiatul Ulya Lil-Jamiatil Qawmia Bangladesh. He is considered one of the pioneers of Deoband movement in Bangladesh.

Early life and family Muhibullah was born on 15 February 1934 in the village of Babunagar in Fatikchhari Thana, Chittagong District, East Bengal, Pakistan (now Bangladesh) to a Bengali Muslim family of theologians. His father was Harun Babunagari, the founder of Al-Jamiatul Islamiah Azizul Uloom Babunagar.

Education Babunagari studied at his father's institute, Al-Jamiatul Islamiah Azizul Uloom Babunagar, until class 8 (Jamat-e-Chaharum). He then proceeded to study at the Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam in Hathazari from class 9 (Hidayah Awwalain). Seeking to extend his Islamic studies to a further level, Babunagari left Bengal to enrol at the Darul Uloom Deoband in North India. In Deoband, Babunagari started from class 9 (Hidayah Awwalain) again. In 1959, he completed Hadith studies at the institute. He studied Hidayah Akhirain under Hussain Ahmad Madani, Sahih al-Bukhari under Syed Fakhruddin Ahmad, Sahih Muslim and Jami' al-Tirmidhi under Ibrahim Balyawi and Sunan Abu Dawood under Fakhrul Hasan.

Career After returning to Bengal following his studies, Babunagari began teaching at Al-Jamiatul Islamiah Azizul Uloom Babunagar, and later became vice-principal.

Politics He was a presidium member of Islami Andolan Bangladesh during the lifetime of Charmonai Pir Fazlul Karim. During the lifetime of Fazlul Haque Amini, he was associated with Islami Oikya Jote and Islamic Law Implementation Committee. Later he was elected vice-president of Islami Oikya Jote. He resigned from Islami Oikya Jote in 2018. In 2026 general election Babunagari issued fatwa that declared voting Bangladesh Jammat-i-Islami to be haram for Muslims further stating "We are waging jihad against Mawdudi's Jamaat, putting [the BNP candidate] forward. I do not understand elections. This is jihad." He also supported Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician, Sarowar Alamgir.