Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, is attempting a dramatic political comeback ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections, reshaping its image from a long-stigmatized force into a potentially powerful contender. The party, which was barred from electoral politics for more than a decade due to its opposition to Bangladesh’s independence and its controversial role in the 1971 war, has moved quickly to capitalize on public discontent following the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Reuters reports that Jamaat is now presenting itself as a reformed, welfare-oriented alternative, a shift that has unsettled moderates and minority communities.
Jamaat began its reinvention shortly after a youth-led uprising toppled Hasina’s government. With her Awami League party banned from the February 12 elections, Jamaat is betting that a platform focused on anti-corruption, welfare outreach, and a more inclusive public stance can deliver its strongest electoral performance yet. A December opinion poll by the US-based International Republican Institute ranked Jamaat as the most “liked” party, projecting a close race with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party for the top spot.
“We started welfare politics, not reactionary politics,” Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman told Reuters, citing the party’s medical camps, flood relief work, and aid to families of those killed during the uprising. The UN estimates that as many as 1,400 people died during the protests. Rahman argued that Jamaat’s constructive approach would win public trust, positioning the party as a moral alternative amid anger over perceived abuses during Hasina’s tenure.
Jamaat’s origins date back to the pan-Islamist movement founded in India in the early 1940s, which opposed Bangladesh’s independence. During Hasina’s rule, many of its leaders were executed or jailed after being convicted by a war crimes tribunal that drew criticism from international human rights groups. The party was banned from elections in 2013 after a court found its charter incompatible with Bangladesh’s secular constitution. The ban was lifted last year, allowing Jamaat to re-enter the political arena and quickly build momentum, particularly among young voters.
The party’s student wing won a sweeping victory in Dhaka University polls, defeating the Gen-Z National Citizen Party, which emerged from the anti-Hasina movement. Jamaat later formed an alliance with the NCP, a move analysts say could help soften its image and broaden its appeal. “We want something new and the new option is Jamaat,” said Mohammad Jalal, a Dhaka vendor, reflecting the frustration many voters feel toward traditional parties.
Political analysts say the party’s rehabilitation has been aided by widespread dissatisfaction with the previous government’s authoritarian tendencies. “The authoritarian tendencies of the Awami League have created widespread frustration, allowing Jamaat to revive its rallying cry of ‘Islam as a solution’ and present itself as a moral alternative,” said analyst Shafi Md. Mostafa.
In an effort to project a more inclusive image, Jamaat has nominated a Hindu candidate for the first time and publicly condemned attacks on minority communities. Yet these moves have done little to reassure critics. Women’s rights activists, including Shireen Huq of Naripokkho, dismissed Jamaat’s promises as a political ploy, noting that no women have been named as candidates for the 300 parliamentary seats. Skeptics also pointed to remarks by party leaders suggesting restrictions on women’s roles, including a proposal that women should work only five hours a day to care for their families.
Since Hasina’s departure, Islamist groups have become more emboldened, and incidents targeting Hindu and Sufi shrines, women’s football matches, and other cultural events have increased. The interim government has condemned these attacks and promised “zero tolerance” from law enforcement, but minorities say the fear and insecurity have never been greater. A minority community leader, speaking anonymously to avoid reprisals, said the risk of Bangladesh moving toward a full-fledged Islamic republic is real if Jamaat’s coalition comes to power.
Jamaat spokesperson Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair denied the party had ever supported violence or intolerance, calling for investigations into the incidents. The party has also built a network of alliances with other Islamist parties, and has been preparing early for the election by hiring an international agency to assess voter sentiment.
Jamaat announced it would contest 179 seats, with 74 distributed among allies, leaving 47 seats still to be allocated. The party has sought to appeal to disillusioned voters by framing itself as a clean and credible alternative to the old political order. Yet its rise is also raising concerns about Bangladesh’s future direction, especially regarding religious freedoms and minority rights.
As Jamaat’s influence grows, analysts say its return could also shift Bangladesh’s foreign policy orientation. Some observers speculate that a Jamaat-led government might move closer to Pakistan, representing a departure from Hasina’s era, when India was Bangladesh’s most important bilateral partner. Jamaat leaders, however, insist they would maintain balanced relations with all nations, rejecting the notion of aligning with any single country.
The party’s rapid revival, now under intense scrutiny, underscores the fragile and shifting political landscape in Bangladesh as it heads into a crucial election that could redefine the country’s future.
