By M. Rahman, PhD, Adviser, Dhaka Straits Times, 

Following the mass uprising of 2024, Bangladesh’s political landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation. A government once considered immovable collapsed under public pressure for accountability. The movement once again proved that when pushed to the edge, the people of Bangladesh rewrite their own political future.

As the country now seeks to rebuild democratic institutions, restore public trust, and create a new political alignment, one development stands out clearly: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has re-emerged as a political force that can no longer be ignored.

Despite the party’s controversial past, Jamaat is actively working to position itself as a credible alternative. In October 2024, it unveiled an ambitious 41-point reform agenda covering governance, judicial independence, election oversight, police reform, public service, culture, and foreign policy. Key proposals include restoring the caretaker government system, forming an independent police commission, and setting mandatory time limits for case disposal in courts. These ideas have gained notable traction among young voters frustrated by corruption and institutional decay.

One of the biggest political surprises has come from university campuses. Jamaat’s student wing, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, won student union elections at four major public universities. This success has energized Jamaat supporters and sent shockwaves through national politics, challenging the perception of Jamaat as a relic of the past. By adopting inclusive, consensus-based panels instead of rigid partisan structures, Shibir has expanded its appeal beyond traditional supporters.

In another unprecedented move, Jamaat nominated its first-ever candidate from the Hindu community. The decision signals a shift toward political inclusion and challenges long-held assumptions about the party’s ideological rigidity. Even critics acknowledge that this step has forced a rethinking of Jamaat’s political strategy.

After the fall of the Awami League, a significant political vacuum emerged. Jamaat now speaks confidently of reform and national unity—language that seemed unthinkable just a year ago. Supporters often cite the administrative record of Jamaat ministers during the 2001–06 coalition government, though whether this legacy can win over today’s voters remains uncertain.

The most difficult challenge Jamaat still faces is its role in 1971. Recently, party Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman publicly offered an unconditional apology—an unprecedented moment in Jamaat’s history. Whether the public will accept this gesture remains to be seen, but symbolically it has opened a door to national reconciliation.

Meanwhile, the BNP has failed to capitalize on the post-Awami League moment. While many expected an easy return to power, Jamaat instead presented itself as organized, disciplined, and purpose-driven. Its support for families of those killed and injured in the July movement has strengthened its public image, while BNP’s disorganized response has deepened voter skepticism.

Bangladesh is no longer confined to the old Awami League–BNP binary. Voters are increasingly judging parties by conduct, credibility, and organizational strength. In this new reality, Jamaat appears comparatively disciplined and strategically focused. Recent surveys suggest BNP support stands at 30–33 percent, while Jamaat has surged to 26–29 percent—an unthinkable rise just a year ago.

The 2024 uprising shattered Bangladesh’s political status quo. Today’s voters value accountability, discipline, and credibility over slogans. Whether Jamaat’s resurgence will endure remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that Bangladesh’s politics has entered a new chapter.