The father also alleged that Tashreef had promised to give him Tk 10,000 a month if he left his job as an imam, but failed to make the payments after he resigned. Tashreef has not issued an official response to the allegations, and the claims could not be independently verified.
In the interview, published on Monday night, 26 October, Hedayetullah said he had struggled to raise and educate his son while earning a modest income from his work as an imam. He alleged that he had sought financial assistance from others to pay for Tashreef’s medical treatment when he was a child.
“I educated him and made him a maulana and a hafiz,” Hedayetullah said, expressing frustration over what he described as his son’s failure to acknowledge his contribution. He also recounted how he had taken Tashreef to hospitals in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Mirzapur after the boy developed a urinary problem during childhood.
According to Hedayetullah, his income was insufficient to cover the treatment costs, forcing him to seek help from other people. He said the family had gone through considerable hardship before his son recovered.
Father alleges lack of financial support
Hedayetullah said his own health had deteriorated in recent years and that he was still undergoing treatment. He alleged that when he asked Tashreef for money to cover his medical expenses, his son declined to help, saying he wanted to buy land instead.
The father said he had found it particularly painful to face financial hardship after spending years raising his son and arranging his education and treatment.
He later sought assistance through a media contact after being advised to approach others for financial support. He said he received some money and used it to pay for treatment, but had not fully recovered and continued to require medical care.
In an emotional appeal, Hedayetullah said he felt abandoned by the son he had supported through difficult times.
“When you had nobody, I was there for you. Now that you have everything, I have become a stranger,” he said, describing his distress over what he claimed was his son’s failure to visit him, enquire about his health or provide financial assistance.
He also alleged that Tashreef now had considerable wealth and a wide circle of friends, yet had not provided the support he expected from him.
Alleged promise of Tk 10,000 a month
One of the central allegations concerns Hedayetullah’s resignation from his position as an imam at a local mosque.
He said Tashreef had recently told him that he intended to contest a local chairman’s election and asked his father to forgive him and pray for him. Hedayetullah said he accepted the request for forgiveness.
According to the father, Tashreef subsequently advised him to leave his job as an imam, promising to provide Tk 10,000 every month. Hedayetullah said he trusted his son’s assurance and resigned.
However, he alleged that no money was paid after he left the position, leaving him without the income he had previously earned from his work at the mosque.
Hedayetullah also said he had repeatedly tried to contact his son’s personal assistant, Obaidullah, to ask about the promised payments. He claimed that the assistant cited temporary difficulties and said the money would be provided later, but the payments never materialised.
The father further alleged that his calls to Tashreef frequently went unanswered. He said he had become frustrated by repeated attempts to establish contact and had eventually resigned himself to managing his difficulties through his faith.
Dispute over sacrificial meat
Hedayetullah also recounted an incident involving Qurbani, the annual Islamic ritual sacrifice performed during Eid-ul-Azha.
According to his account, Tashreef had spoken about sacrificing a cow during the festival. Hedayetullah said he suggested that the meat be distributed among people in their locality, allowing the family to receive a share as well.
He alleged that Tashreef later said some of his friends could not afford to perform Qurbani and that they should receive money or meat. Hedayetullah said he had no objection to helping those friends but claimed that he did not receive even a piece of the sacrificial meat.
The account forms part of the father’s broader allegations that he had been left without adequate support despite the sacrifices he said he had made for his son.
No independent evidence was presented in the interview to establish the details of the alleged financial arrangements or the Qurbani incident. Tashreef’s response was not available at the time of publication.
Earlier controversy over remarks about a madrasa teacher
Tashreef has also attracted public attention over comments made on social media. Most recently, he faced criticism over remarks concerning a teacher at Qariul Quran International Madrasa in Tongi, Gazipur.
The controversy followed allegations of sexual abuse involving a student at the madrasa and the circulation of a video showing the teacher being beaten. The allegations prompted discussion online, including criticism of Tashreef’s public position on the matter.
In a post on his Facebook page, Tashreef reportedly defended the teacher and wrote that kissing a young minor child was permissible “100 times”, a remark that drew criticism on social media.
The allegations concerning his father have now brought further attention to the Islamic speaker’s personal life. However, the claims made by Hedayetullah remain allegations in the absence of an official response from Tashreef or independent verification of the disputed events.
The central issues raised by the interview concern the father’s reported medical and financial difficulties, the alleged monthly payment arrangement following his resignation, and the breakdown in communication between father and son. A response from Tashreef would be necessary to present his account of the dispute and establish whether the two sides offer different explanations for what happened.
