Comilla, January 17 — Prominent activist and anti-discrimination coordinator Hasnat Abdullah delivered a speech at a religious gathering, marking his first such appearance at a mahfil. While he has been seen addressing various platforms following the July uprising, this marks the first instance of him speaking at a religious assembly.

In a video uploaded to the YouTube channel Padma Waz on Friday, Hasnat Abdullah can be seen wearing a white kurta and cap while addressing an audience at a mahfil held in Debidwar, Comilla. The video has since gone viral on social media, sparking discussions about his views.

At the beginning of his speech, Hasnat emphasized that personal popularity or unpopularity is inconsequential compared to adhering to Islamic teachings. He stated, "It does not matter who dislikes me or who approves of my words. What matters is what my religion, Islam, teaches me. If my deen commands me to say something, even if it is unpopular, I must say it." His remarks resonated with the attendees, many of whom responded positively to his message.

During the speech, Hasnat addressed economic practices in the community, particularly condemning the concept of “pattan,” a traditional local financial exchange system, which he described as usury. Drawing from personal experience, he admitted that members of his family and neighbors were once involved in such practices. However, he emphasized that after gaining knowledge and seeking guidance from Islamic scholars, they abandoned these activities.

Hasnat took an oath during his speech, underscoring the destructive effects of interest-based financial systems. He said, “This practice of generating money from money destroys countless families. It is not my concern whether you dislike me for saying this. What matters is that we must socially resist and eradicate usury.” He urged the audience to cease such activities and pledged to work towards making social credit more accessible.

Highlighting Islam as a comprehensive way of life, Hasnat further stated that it addresses both worldly and spiritual matters. He stressed the importance of balancing these aspects and urged the community to align their lives with Islamic principles to achieve harmony and prosperity.