The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Sunday urged the Indian government to reassess the recently passed Muslim Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, citing serious concerns over its implications for the rights and religious freedoms of India's Muslim minority.
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka, Salah Uddin Ahmed, a member of BNP’s national standing committee, described the bill as a potentially discriminatory legal measure that could undermine the centuries-old Islamic tradition of waqf— an institution of charitable endowment where individuals permanently donate property for religious or public welfare purposes.
“The new law introduces provisions that can be misused to interfere in the management of waqf properties and institutions,” he said, adding, “Such interference could jeopardize the religious rights and cultural heritage of nearly 200 million Muslims in India.”
One of the bill’s most controversial elements, according to Ahmed, is the inclusion of non-Muslim members on waqf management boards. He argued that this move departs from established practice and could set a dangerous precedent.
“There are no known instances where members of other faiths are included in religious or legal bodies overseeing institutions of other religions in India,” he pointed out.
Ahmed warned that this measure could compromise the administration of over one million acres of waqf land across India, much of which is dedicated to mosques, madrasas, orphanages, graveyards, and other community services. He echoed the concerns of several Indian Muslim organisations, including the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which have called the law “unconstitutional” and “politically motivated.”
“The spirit of waqf is rooted in Islamic traditions,” Giving non-Muslim members authority over waqf properties directly violates the autonomy and religious rights of Muslims,” Ahmed emphasised.
Calling for the Indian government to act in the spirit of democracy and inclusion, Ahmed saod, “India is a vast and diverse democracy. We hope it will respect the sentiments of its Muslim population and reconsider this law. Ensuring fair and non-discriminatory governance is essential for maintaining regional peace and communal harmony.”
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