Islami Andolan expels leader over viral video scandal

The disciplinary action was confirmed late Monday night (October 12) through a press release signed by Maulana Md. Nurul Islam, Publicity Secretary of Islami Andolan's Bhola South branch.

According to the press release, a notice signed by the central party's secretary general stated that allegations of moral lapse against Abbas Uddin were initially proven during a probe, leading to his removal from all organizational responsibilities. Concurrently, Joint Secretary Maulana Salauddin has been appointed as the acting secretary.

Party sources revealed that apart from his political involvement, Maulana Abbas Uddin serves as the director of a local Qawmi madrasa. The controversy erupted after a video capturing him in an intimate conversation via video call began circulating widely across social media, sparking intense public debate and criticism.

In response to the backlash, the central committee of Islami Andolan suspended his post on Sunday (October 11) and formed a five-member probe committee headed by Bhola South District President Professor Kamal Uddin. Following the committee's investigation, which substantiated the allegations, the party formally expelled him.

Denying deliberate wrongdoing, the expelled leader Maulana Abbas Uddin claimed that the woman in the video is his wife and that the footage was recorded several months ago.

He alleged that the phone containing the video was recently stolen and that a vested quarter maliciously leaked the footage on social media to tarnish his political image. He also expressed regret over the circulation of the video.

-SA