Sammilito Khatme Nabuwat Parishad yesterday launched a year-long programme at an international conference in Dhaka, demanding that the government declare Ahmadiyyas a non-Muslim minority.

"If the Qadianis [Ahmadiyyas] are not declared non-Muslim, tougher programmes will be announced," Mohiuddin Rabbani, secretary general of International Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwat, Bangladesh, told the conference at Suhrawardy Udyan.

The programme includes mass signature collection from alems, Islamic scholars and supporters until April 30 next year; submission of memorandums to all deputy commissioners in May and June; and divisional Khatme Nabuwat conferences between July and November.

If the demand remains unmet, they will organise a national ulema-mashayekh conference in December 2026 with leading Islamic scholars to determine the course of action.

At least 90 clerics, scholars and politicians from Bangladesh and abroad, including Pakistan, India, Nepal, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, addressed the event.  Leaders from the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and Hefajat-e-Islam also took part.

This is the first international conference organised by Khatme Nabuwat in Bangladesh.

Speakers alleged that Ahmadiyyas hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim majority by identifying themselves as Muslims and presenting "fabricated" beliefs as "true Islam".

They said the Muslim ummah unanimously believes, based on the Quran and Hadith, that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the final messenger of Allah and that anyone claiming prophethood after him is an impostor.

Some speakers at the event said the Ahmadiyya community, founded in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, believes him to be the promised messiah and reformer. These beliefs, they added, contradict Islam and promote doctrines "contrary to Islam".

Speakers demanded that the state declare the Ahmadiyyas non-Muslim, bar them from praying in mosques, and confiscate all their books and literature to prevent "religious confusion".

"Some 104 countries in the world have declared Qadianis non-Muslim. In a 1993 judgment, the Bangladesh High Court also declared the Ahmadiyya Jamaat non-Muslim. To protect faith and prevent religious deviation, the state must declare the Qadiani community non-Muslim," according to a statement of Hefajat Ameer Muhibullah Babunagari. It was read out at the event.

BNP Standing Committee member Salauddin Ahmed also spoke. As he was concluding his speech, several attendees urged him to personally declare Ahmadiyyas "non-Muslims".

In response, he said, "The language you want me to use is not the language of law."

He, however, said, "All legal measures will be taken through discussions in the parliament, Insha'Allah. The entire nation must remain united."

He also said the BNP would restore "absolute faith and trust in the Almighty Allah" in the constitution's preamble and fundamental state principles.

Islami Andolon Bangladesh Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim said the political situation after August 5 had created "an opportunity for an Islamic resurgence". He pledged to declare Ahmadiyyas non-Muslim and pass a law in parliament.

A formal declaration was read out by Mahfuzul Haque, secretary general of Befakul Madarisil Arabia.

Those present included Pakistani scholar Ilyas Ghuman; Hanif Jalandhari, secretary general of Pakistan's Wafaqul Madaris al-Arabiya; Ahmad Yusuf Binnuri of Pakistan's Yusuf Bin Nuri Town Madrasa; Darul Uloom Deoband mohtamim Abul Qasim Nomani; Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Madani; Sheikh Abdur Rauf Makki of the International Khatme Nabuwwat Movement, Saudi Arabia; and Sheikh Musab Nabil Ibrahim of Egypt's Al-Azhar University.

The event came after Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at, in a letter to the chief adviser on November 2, urged protection for its members, citing potential threats posed by the planned Khatme Nabuwat rally and its related activities.

"With the current situation in view, we appeal to you to kindly safeguard the basic human and religious rights of Ahmadiyya Muslims and protect our lives and properties. This will also save our society and beloved country from any attempt to create chaos or instability," read the letter.