allegations that the Madrassah is a training ground for Islamic extremists. While authorities of the school have confirmed that some graduates volunteered for the Afghan jihad during the 1980s, there was no strong evidence to suggest that the school itself was recruiting for the jihad. The rector of the school, Maulana Ahmad Shafi—popularly known as "Boro Huzur" (the eldest scholar)—is also the chairman of a faction of the political party Islami Oikya Jote. Critics of the party say that membership of IOJ coincides with the Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI), though a leading Bangladeshi political scientist warns little is actually known about their organisation. Rector Ahmad is also purported to be the leader of a group called "Hifazat-e-Islam," which he claims to be a peaceful organisation. Ahmad and his colleagues state that the group is for protesting the government's decisions to introduce a secular education system. A statement from the police mentions that men, suspected to be from Hifazat-e-Islam, fired gunshots and threw homemade bombs on the police, causing injuries to 5 or 6 police constables. It is unclear whether or not these actions were approved by Ahmad Shafi. Alumni scholars The Jamiah Darul Ulum Moinul Islam has produced a large number of notable scholars. Shah Ahmad Hasan Mufti Faizullah Faqihul Millat Mufti Abdur Rahman Ashraf Ali Bishwanathi Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi Mufti Mizanur Rahman Sayed Mufti Izharul Islam Junaid Babunagari Nurul Islam Jihadi Sajidur Rahman Zia Uddin References External Link Darul Uloom Hathazari Qawmi madrasas of Bangladesh Deobandi Islamic universities and colleges 1896 establishments in India