ABOUT CHAIRMAN
Dr. Syed Saifuddin Ahmed Maizbhandari
Chairman, Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP)
Personality: Sufi scholar, social reformer, religious leader, politician.
He is the 31st descendant of beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and great grandson of the founder of ‘Tariqa-e-Maizbhandaria’, Gausul Hazrat Sayeed Ahmadullah Al Hasani Maizbhandari (QSA). ‘Tariqa-e-Maizbhandaria’ is one of the prominent Sufi orders in the world and the only authentic Sufi order to originate in the land of Bangladesh. Since the 18th century, the sufi order also commonly known as ‘Maizbhandar Darbar Shareef’, has established a massive worldwide following and garnered widespread recognition as a place for practising Sufism & gaining spirituality in the subcontinent. Love for the Creator and His creation is the basic ideology of this Sufi order, with an emphasis in earning the vicinity of Allah (SWT) through unconditional love for the beloved Prophet (PBUH), honourable Ahlul Bayet and Awliya Allah. Equality, harmony, humanity are the basic pillars of ‘Tariqa-e-Maizbhandaria’…
As a premier leader and incumbent of ‘Tariqa-e-Maizbhandaria’, Sayeed Saifuddin Ahmed Al Hasani has been actively involved in preaching Islam as well as extending social welfare activities around the globe. His father, Sheikhul Islam Hazrat Allama Shahsufi Sayeed Mainuddin Ahmed Al Hasani Wal Hussainy (QSA) was also a highly renowned Sufi personality who was highly revered home & abroad. In 2000, his father participated in ‘The Millennium World Peace Summit for Religious and Spiritual Leaders’ at United Nations in USA. Addressing the United Nations, he urged global leaders to follow ‘The Charter of Medina’ to establish global peace and harmony. He was given the title of ‘Sheikhul Islam’ from International Association of Sufism (IAS) in 1997 and ‘Grand Ambassador of Islam, Global Peace and Humanity’ from ‘US based International Islamic Centre’ in 2005. He was also a pioneer in establishing holy ‘Eid-e-Miladunnabi (PBUH)’ celebration in Bangladesh and was also the former president of ‘Ahley Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Bangladesh’.
ROLE AS SUFI SCHOLAR & RELIGIOUS LEADER
Sayed Saifuddin Ahmed Al Hasani is currently the chairman of ‘Anjuman-e-Rahmania Mainia Maizbhandaria’ which is one of the major Sufi Islamic organizations in Bangladesh, since its inception in 1988 by his father (mentioned above). Since 1988, the organization has held one of the biggest holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi (PBUH) celebration ceremonies in the world with the participation of thousands of the lovers of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Also the organization has been working to expand Islamic culture, communal harmony and social welfare. Sayed Saifuddin Ahmed Al Hasani is also the president of ‘Parliament of World Sufis’ which was formed along with Sufi personalities, scholars in 2016. He is also an Hon’ble advisor of ‘International Association of Sufism’.
He has prominently taken part in the following international conferences :
The Millennium World Peace Summit for Religious & Spiritual Leaders’ at the United Nations in the USA in 2000.
‘IInternational Workshop On Sufism’ in Uzbekistan organized by UNESCO in 2000.
‘International Islamic Conference’ organized by ‘Ghana National Council’ and ‘US based International Islamic Centre’ in 2005.
“International Sufi Symposium” organized by ‘International Association of Sufism (IAS)’ at San Francisco in California, USA in 2014.
“International World Alliance of Religions Peace Summit” in South Korea organized by
“Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL)” in 2014.
‘Fez International Sufi Conference’ organized by ‘The International Academic Centre of Sufi and Aesthetic Studies (IACSAS)’ in Morocco in 2015.
“World Sufi Forum” organized by”All India Ulema Mashaikh Board” in New Delhi, India in2016.
‘International Sufi Conference’ in Mostaganem, Algeria in 2016.
“International Islamic Conference” organized by ‘Defence Ministry of Indonesia’ “Jamiate Ahley Tarikat Al Mutabarah An Nahdiyah” in Indonesia in 2016.
He presided over the “1st International Sufi Conference” organized by ‘Sufi Unity for International Solidarity (SUFIS)’ in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2016.
“Inter-Religious Conference” at Ajmeer Sharif in India in 2017.
“The Role Of Sufism in Human Welfare & National Security” organized by “Defense Ministry of Indonesia” and “World Sufi Forum” in 2019.
“9th annual International Summit on Sufism/Tasawwuf” organized by “International Academy of Sufi Scholars” in Turkey” in 2020.
ROLE AS SOCIAL REFORMER
Sayed Saifuddin Ahmed Al Hasani has been a stalwart in the field of social welfare and humanity, enriching the lives of not only his followers but the general population of Bangladesh as well. He is the chairman and founder of ‘Hazrat Syed Mainuddin Ahmed Maizbhandari Trust’ which has been directing more than fifty social welfare related programmes.There are forty five Madrasas and orphanages where poor and orphan children are getting free education, healthcare as well as other amenities. Anjuman-e-Rahmania Mainia Maizbhandaria, Parliament of World Sufis, Mainia Youth Forum observed human chain in several districts of Bangladesh, including the capital Dhaka to protest against the genocide of Rohingyas. Around 2 million Rohingya refugees are stranded in Bangladesh due to the ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ operated by the Myanmar Army in 2017. On 30th September, 2017 Sayed Saifuddin Ahmed Al Hasani visited the Rohingya Refugee Camp at Kutupalong in Cox’s Bazar and distributed relief goods among half a million families. Again on 6th December 2018, Sayed Saifuddin Ahmed Al Hasani along with five prominent sufi scholars from Tunisia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Yemen, USA visited the Rohingya camp and distributed blankets among refugees. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the trust has distributed sanitisers, soaps, masks among two hundred thousand people and relief goods among half a million more families and so far it’s still continuing.
Bangladesh faces a lot of natural disasters every year. Sayed Saifuddin Ahmed Al Hasani always offers his assistance to affected people with relief goods. The trust has also been working to eradicate the unemployment problem. Under the ‘Rickshaw Project’ Hazrat Syed Mainuddin Ahmed Maizbhandari Trust has distributed 310 rickshaws and countless sewing machines are being distributed among women in an effort to make unemployed people more self reliant.
Sayed Saifuddin Ahmed Al Hasani founded Mainia Youth Forum in 2013 to build up youth as good citizens of the nation. Mainly, the organization works for the ethical upliftment of youth through the teaching and practice of Sufism & teachings of the holy Prophet (S). Mainia Youth Forum has been making praiseworthy contributions in the fight against societal issues such as drug addiction, dowry system, terrorism, caste divisions etc. They have been tirelessly working for human welfare and their work has also got recognition from the government of Bangladesh.
Sayed Saifuddin Ahmed Al Hasani is known as a role model for communal harmony in Bangladesh. He maintains good relations with leaders of other religions. He regularly holds and attends inter-religious conferences, dialogues at national stage to promote inter-faith harmony.
He is also the chairman of ‘Hazrat Syed Mainuddin Ahmed Maizbhandari Calligraphy Foundation’. The foundation has been working to promote the rich culture of Islamic calligraphy. In 2019, he organized the ’10th National Calligraphy Exhibition and Competition’ at the National Museum in Dhaka. World famous calligraphy artist Haji Noor Di Guang Xiang joined the event as the chief guest. Sayeed Saifuddin Ahmed Al Hasani continues to uplift the hearts, minds and souls of millions of followers around the world.
Historic India Tour in 2016
In April, 2016 at Bigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Sayed Saifuddin Ahmed Al Hasani Maizbhandari represented Bangladesh at an international conference on global peace, harmony organized by ‘World Sufi Forum’ where Indian PM Narendra Modi participated as the chief guest.
Honorary Doctorate Degree
In May, 2023 the UK-based International Academy of Sufi Scholars conferred the incumbent imam of Maizbhadar Darbar Sayed Saifuddin Ahmed with a honorary doctoral degree for his literary works on universal peace and brotherhood, the Islamic spiritual hub. He received his degree in his book ‘The essence of Tasawwuf. The announcement came days after Sayed Saifuddin Ahmed Maizbhandari attended the ‘Tenth Annual Conference on Tasawwuf’ in the historic land of Guelmim of Morocco with the theme being impact of Sufi Tariqas in shaping modern community in different countries.