By DST’s Editorial Team,
An Analysis from Reuters
After being barred from electoral politics for more than a decade, Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, has re-emerged ahead of the next parliamentary election by reinventing itself—and, in the process, appears to have secured substantial public support. Following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, Jamaat has emphasized an anti-corruption image, welfare-oriented activities, and an inclusive political message aimed at broadening public consensus.
A December opinion survey conducted by the US-based International Republican Institute ranked Jamaat as the most “favored” party, predicting a close contest with the BNP. Speaking to Reuters, Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “We have embraced welfare politics, not reactionary politics.” He cited medical camps, flood relief efforts, and assistance to families of those killed during the July movement as examples of the party’s new approach. According to him, this constructive political engagement by Jamaat and its allies is restoring public trust and confidence in the party.
Under Hasina’s rule, Jamaat’s top leaders were sentenced to death or long prison terms. The party’s registration was cancelled, and it was banned from participating in elections.
“We Want Something New”
Following the lifting of the ban last year, Jamaat’s student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, won student union elections at Dhaka University and several other campuses. Jamaat has also formed an electoral alliance with the new party NCP—a move analysts say has further softened and broadened its public image.
Mohammad Jalal, a 40-year-old coconut vendor in a crowded Dhaka market, reflected a sentiment heard increasingly among voters: “We want something new. Jamaat is that new alternative. It has a clean image and works for the country.”
Political analyst and theologian Shafi Md. Mostafa argues that widespread public anger over repression during Hasina’s tenure helped transform Jamaat from a “recognized but pragmatic rival” into a “rehabilitated contender.” The Awami League’s authoritarian tendencies, he says, generated deep frustration, enabling Jamaat to revive its long-standing slogan—“Islam as the solution”—and present itself as a moral alternative.
For the first time, Jamaat has nominated a Hindu candidate and has spoken out against recent attacks on minorities. On its website, the party states that it envisions Bangladesh as a democratic country governed by Islamic principles. Party leaders have also publicly pledged equal rights for women, although Jamaat has not nominated any female candidates for the 300 directly elected parliamentary seats. Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, however, has said women could be represented through the 50 reserved seats allocated via proportional representation after the election.
Jamaat spokesperson Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer has insisted that the party “has never been involved in, nor supported, violence or intolerance in the name of religion.”
The Alliance Network
A junior partner in the BNP-led government from 2001 to 2006, Jamaat has now forged an electoral alliance with most Islamist parties in the country. Early last year, it began shortlisting candidates and hired an international firm to gauge voter sentiment nationwide.
Last week, Jamaat announced it would contest 179 seats, of which 74 would be shared with the NCP and other allies. After one partner withdrew from the alliance, another 47 seats remain to be allocated.
One Jamaat candidate, Mir Ahmad bin Qasem, who was forcibly disappeared during Hasina’s rule and reportedly detained and tortured in an “Aynaghar” secret facility for eight years, said the party approached him in April last year. “They showed me data indicating that people across the country are fed up with the old parties and want change,” he said. “They believe there is a real opportunity. That is why I joined Jamaat.”
He added that Jamaat seeks balanced relations with all countries. “We do not want to lean towards any single power. We respect everyone and want balanced relationships in the national interest.”
