Bangladesh’s once-banned Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, is preparing for its most competitive national election in nearly two decades and is open to joining a unity government after the 12 February parliamentary vote, its leader said on Wednesday.
Party Poised for Major Comeback
Opinion polls suggest Jamaat-e-Islami could emerge as the second-largest party behind the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in what will be its first electoral contest in 17 years. The February vote marks Jamaat’s formal return to mainstream politics in the Muslim-majority country of 175 million people.
Jamaat previously shared power with the BNP between 2001 and 2006 and remains open to another partnership. “We want to see a stable nation for at least five years. If the parties come together, we’ll run the government together,” Jamaat Ameer (President) Shafiqur Rahman told Reuters in Dhaka. His remarks came days after Jamaat drew public attention by securing an alliance with a Gen-Z party.
From Ban to Ballot
The party’s resurgence follows the ousting of long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a youth-led uprising in August 2024. Hasina, whose Awami League has since been barred from the election, had been a vocal critic of Jamaat. During her tenure, several senior Jamaat leaders were executed for alleged war crimes linked to Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war, which the party had opposed.
Jamaat was banned from elections in 2013 after a court ruled that its charter violated the secular constitution. The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus lifted those restrictions last August, paving the way for its political re-entry.
Although the party continues to advocate Islamic governance under sharia law, Rahman said Jamaat is broadening its platform to include anti-corruption measures and national stability. “Anti-corruption must be a shared agenda for any unity government,” he said, adding that the next prime minister should come from the party that wins the most seats.
Diplomatic Balancing and Regional Tensions
Rahman also expressed concern over Sheikh Hasina’s continued stay in India after her flight from Dhaka, noting that relations between the two neighbours have deteriorated since her removal. India, which had built close trade and political ties with Hasina’s government, is now seeking to engage with potential new partners.
Rahman confirmed meeting an Indian diplomat earlier this year, saying the official had requested confidentiality about the encounter. “Why? There are so many diplomats who visited me and it was made public. Where is the problem?” he asked. “We must become open to all and open to each other. There is no alternative to develop our relationship.”
India’s foreign ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. However, an Indian government source confirmed contacts with several Bangladeshi political groups. India’s foreign minister visited Dhaka on Wednesday to offer condolences to the family of BNP chief and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who died the previous day.
Addressing Jamaat’s historical ties with Pakistan, Rahman said the party seeks balanced relations with all nations. “We are never interested in leaning toward any one country. Rather, we respect all and want balanced relations among nations,” he stated.
Rahman added that any government involving Jamaat “would not feel comfortable” with President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who was elected unopposed with Awami League support in 2023. Shahabuddin has previously told Reuters he would be willing to step down midway through his term but declined to comment on Rahman’s latest remarks.
with inputs from Reuters
