BNP expressed hope that the recently passed controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 in India's Lok Sabha would be reconsidered to maintain regional communal harmony.

The party's Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed expressed this view of the party at a press conference at the chairperson's office in the capital’s Gulshan on Sunday.

He said, "According to organisations like the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, this law goes against the core spirit of the Islamic Waqf system. According to them, the Waqf Board should be managed by Muslims. They have opined that it amounts to a direct interference in the religious rights of Muslim citizens."

"India is a large democratic country, and the Indian government will reconsider this law, upholding the guardianship role of the state in protecting the religious rights of citizens of all religions... We express our hope. We believe that if they do so, this step (reconsidering the bill) will play a historic role in maintaining regional communal harmony," he added.

The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday with a vote of 288-232.

Later on Friday, the bill was cleared with a vote of 128-95. Indian President Droupadi Murmu has already given her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

Highlighting the issue of 'Waqf', an ancient Islamic endowment system for minority Muslims in India, Salahuddin said, 'After analysing various sections of the law, we have observed that it attempts to curtail the rights of minority Muslims in India and treat them in a discriminatory manner. Muslims in India, along with various Muslim organisations, have reacted by stating that the 'Muslim Waqf (Amendment) Bill-2024' is unconstitutional and politically motivated."

He stated that there is significant potential for misuse of this law, which goes against the religious traditions, rights, culture, and interests of 14% of India's population—approximately 200 million Muslims—and could lead to a massive disruption in the operation of Islamic religious institutions.

The BNP standing committee member stated that most of the nearly 1 million acres of property under the Waqf Boards in India are utilised for public welfare purposes, such as mosques, madrasahs, cemeteries, and orphanages.

The inclusion of non-Muslim members in the management board under the new law has sparked controversy, as it may violate the constitutional rights of Muslim citizens, he added.

"We (BNP) believe that it is not appropriate to take any such step at the state level, as it may interfere with the religious rights of Muslims and lead to discriminatory behaviour, which may lead to the destruction of communal harmony," said the BNP senior leader.

Salahuddin Ahmed said the new law grants non-Muslim members the authority to manage these properties and carry out administrative duties, which constitutes direct interference in the religious rights of Muslim citizens.

BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council member Ismail Zabihullah and Legal Affairs Secretary Barrister Kaiser Kamal were present at the press conference.