‘Room 501’ part of campaign to destroy reputation, alleges Mamunul Haque

The Ameer of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Sheikh al-Hadith Mamunul Haque, has issued a detailed explanation regarding the Narayanganj “resort incident”, claiming it was part of a politically motivated campaign against him.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, he addressed the controversy surrounding “Room 501” of a resort in Narayanganj, alleging that the episode was used as part of a “failed political project” to destroy his reputation.

Mamunul Haque said that on 3 April 2021, he had stayed at Room 501 of the Royal Resort in Narayanganj with his wife, Jannatul Ara (Jharna). He alleged that police, along with local Awami League activists, journalists and others, arrived at the scene and harassed them.

He claimed that the resort reception informed him that the entire premises had been surrounded by police. According to his account, after the room door was opened, a group forcibly entered and began live-streaming the incident using multiple devices.

He further alleged that both he and his wife were subjected to harassment, and that he placed her in a washroom to protect her. He claimed that a female police officer later entered the washroom and that live broadcasting continued from there.

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Mamunul Haque also said that during questioning, both he and his wife confirmed their marital relationship, which was subsequently circulated in various media platforms. He alleged that his mobile phone was initially confiscated by police but later returned by an additional superintendent of police after verification.

He further claimed that officials from the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) later arrived and instructed that they be taken to the police station.

The Khelafat Majlis leader said thousands of people had gathered outside the resort at the time, and that he helped calm the situation while also ensuring the safety of police personnel. He alleged that his Facebook live function had been technically disabled during the incident.

Referring to his marriage with Jannatul Ara, he said she was previously married to his close associate Hafiz Shahidul Islam and had two children. He stated that the couple later divorced by mutual consent.

Mamunul Haque said Jannatul Ara later contacted him and he subsequently proposed marriage, adding that he had informed her in advance about the difficulty of maintaining complete fairness among multiple wives, as required in Islamic principles. He claimed she agreed, after which they were married in accordance with Shariah.

He said Jannatul Ara was later enrolled in a Quran learning centre and engaged in tailoring and other training activities.

Explaining why the marriage was kept private, he said polygamy is socially sensitive in South Asia and disclosure could have caused instability in his first family. He also cited legal complexities regarding spousal consent.

He claimed that Islamic marriage does not necessarily require formal registration and said his multiple marriages were known to close associates.

Mamunul Haque also addressed the use of identity documents, stating that discussions were held to manage naming references in official records involving his first wife, Amina Tayyeba, and Jannatul Ara’s former husband, Shahidul Islam.

He questioned whether he or Jannatul Ara had violated any law, alleging that police entered the room and that private call records were later leaked by the state. He insisted that he had not violated either state law or Islamic law.

He further claimed that after the incident, the then NSI Director General met him and urged him to take a position against Allama Junayed Babunagari, a proposal he said he rejected.

Mamunul Haque also alleged that pressure was exerted on Jannatul Ara, her father, former husband and family members, and that she was kept in custody for an extended period.

Referring to court proceedings, he claimed that Jannatul Ara’s son was initially encouraged to give misleading statements but later testified truthfully in court, thereby frustrating what he described as a planned attempt to distort facts.

Rejecting allegations of “mutah” or temporary marriage, he insisted that his marriage with Jannatul Ara was a legitimate Islamic union.

He said their marital relationship lasted from 2019 to March 2025, ending by mutual agreement following disputes arising after the 2021 incident. He added that he ensured her maintenance and rights during their marriage and even during his period of imprisonment.

In his post, Mamunul Haque alleged that he was subjected to character assassination due to political and ideological differences, and claimed that he was pressured to make statements against Islamic scholars, which he refused.

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Drawing historical parallels, he referenced the case of false accusations against Hazrat Aisha (RA), stressing that truth cannot be concealed through defamation campaigns, while clarifying that he was not equating his situation with hers.

He further alleged that the campaign against him was part of a broader political strategy of the then government, also citing past political narratives involving former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

At one point, he quoted verse 61 of Surah Al-Imran from the Holy Qur’an and called for “Mubahala”, challenging others to prove his statements false through a religious oath-based test.

Concluding his post, Mamunul Haque said “501” was not a negative symbol for him but rather, in his words, a “document of the defeat of fascist Hasina and her allies”, adding that it would be remembered as a symbol of victory.

He prayed for guidance for all at the end of his lengthy statement.