Ali said his organisation will gherao the West Bengal Board of Wakfs on April 22 as a mark of protest against the “corruption” prevalent in Wakf properties.

Talking to mediapersons at the Press Club, Ali alleged that properties worth crores are being encroached upon or being exploited for monetary gains by a section of Muslim leaders, who are politically affiliated to the CPM.

He further said that legal issues related to prime properties in the state, that fall under the purview of the Wakf board, are not being resolved. “We demand an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the mishandling of Wakf properties and the role played by some CPM politicians in dealing with Wakf properties and funds,” Ali said. “While around 8,000 properties have been listed with the board, there are thousands of properties that have not yet been listed,” he added.

The agitation will commence at the Calcutta Madrasa College. Thereafter, it will converge at the Board of Wakfs office in central Kolkata. Two other organisations — the All India Jame Ashraf Foundation and West Bengal Madrasa Students Union — have extended their support to the forum.