Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Mahfuj Alam on Saturday disclosed that he was not involved with Islami Chatra Shibir nor Hizbut Tahrir, while stressing that Dhaka will be the centre of a Civilizational confluence and the cultural hub of the Bay of Bengal region.
Sharing some clarifications from his verified Facebook account, Mahfuj said he follows his Bengali Muslim forefathers who have formed and forged a community through sacrifices and farsightedness.
"This community will have a fair share in this region and their vision will come true. I am against backdated nationalisms. We need new languages and vocabularies to connect with more people- in and out of Bangladesh," Mahfuj said.
He said his followers may report, unfriend, and unfollow those fake IDs and Pages except his verified Facebook account.
Mahfuj alleged that there is a "smear campaign" going on against him, especially in Indian media outlets, that he was involved with Islamist or militant politics, even tying him with banned outfit Hizbut Tahrir. "I was not!"
"I was and still am against the ideology of Hizbut Tahrir and any other non-democratic group. I wasn’t involved with Islami Chatra Shibir either. I didn't participate in their political activities. I was approached and invited to their programs in my first year of university, but I wasn't convinced by their ideological vision for Bangladesh," he said.
Literally didn't and still don't subscribe to the 'Islam' of Jamaat. Hence, I did not 'benefit' or become 'privileged' like other Shibir activists in Tamirul Millat or DU. But I had to face Islamophobia and Shibir-tagging (ascribing someone as a member of Shibir without verification) on campus," Mahfuj added.
He was not the 'mastermind' of the movement that brought down the AL autocracy, but every decision from June 5 to August 5th was consulted with and 'ratified' by him including 9 points, Mahfuj said.
"Almost all programs and narratives were written by my hands for the last five years. You will surely know everything if my circle or I can live past the challenges. Pray that we live a dignified life or become martyrs (Shaheedan)," he said.
Mahfuj is a believer and a Bengali Muslim and he does not subscribe to Islamist or secularist ideologies.
"I have a vision for a civilizationally transformed State in this region and a society based on ideals of Compassion and Responsibility. Individual and collective aspirations of the oppressed Multitude will find ways to be translated into State Policies," he mentioned.
Mahfuj also clarified he is not a follower of Lalon Shah or Karl Marx follower in the mould of writer and thinker Farhad Mazhar.
"I see Lalon as an extension and cumulative expression of Bengal's soul-searching Practices and Rituals. And, Marx will be relevant as long as capitalism exists," he said.
However, the question of Bengali Muslims should primarily be referred to and discussed in the framework of 'riverine Islam' and the Muslim community of Bengal, Mahfuj said.
"Bengali Muslims should break the shackles of the inferiority complex and explain their forefathers' worldviews in the global Sphere."
"I am not a grave/ Shrine Worshipper. I venerate Sufis and Ulemas of different Tariqas. I lived and contacted many ulemas and Pirs in my adolescent age and afterward. And, Still, I have a connection with them. They imbibed me with the love of the Prophet (Pbuh). I am grateful to them. Again, I don't like compromising and fascist-enabling Sufism. I love those Sufis and ulemas, who stand for Haq (for Real and Rights)," Mahfuj said.
He thinks those desecrating graves are really against the common aspiration and historical legacies of Bengali Muslims and Bengal altogether.
Mahfuj ended his set of clarifications with a note that goes, "If anyone gets hurt by my writings, I do apologize from my Heart. I love you all as fellow citizens, as brothers and Sisters. Doyal dorodi nobijike salam!".