[🇧🇩] Political Activities of Jamaat-E-Islami

[Saif]

Indian diplomat asked that the meeting remain confidential: Jamaat ameer to Reuters

As New Delhi seeks to engage parties that could form the next government, Rahman confirmed meeting an Indian diplomat earlier this year after his bypass surgery. Unlike diplomats from other countries who made open courtesy visits to him, the Indian official asked that the meeting remain...

en.prothomalo.com

Indian diplomat asked that the meeting remain confidential: Jamaat ameer to Reuters
​

1. Jamaat-e-Islami says party has held talks with other groups​
2. Chief Shafiqur Rahman says anti-corruption must be shared agenda​
3. Rahman says party will decide who will be its PM candidate​

Reuters Dhaka
Published: 01 Jan 2026, 10: 08

Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islam Prothom Alo file photo

A once-banned Bangladeshi Islamist party, poised for its strongest electoral showing in February’s parliamentary vote, is open to joining a unity government and has held talks with several parties, its chief told Reuters on Wednesday.

Opinion polls suggest that Jamaat-e-Islami will finish a close second to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the first election it has contested in nearly 17 years as it marks a return to mainstream politics in the predominantly Muslim nation of 175 million.

Jamaat last held power between 2001 and 2006 as a junior coalition partner with the BNP and is open to working with it again.

“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 said in an interview at his office in a residential area in Dhaka, days after the party created a buzz by securing a tie-up with a Gen-Z party.


Anti-corruption plank

Jamaat advocates Islamic governance under sharia law but has sought to broaden its appeal beyond its conservative base. Rahman said anti-corruption must be a shared agenda for any unity government.

The prime minister will come from the party winning the most seats in the 12 February election, he added. If Jamaat wins the most seats, the party will decide whether he himself would be a candidate, Rahman said.

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 party is now barred from the election, was a fierce critic of Jamaat, and during her tenure, several of its leaders were sentenced to death for alleged war crimes during the 1971 independence conflict with Pakistan, a war Jamaat opposed.

Jamaat had been banned from elections since 2013 after a court ruled its charter violated the country’s secular constitution. An interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus lifted all restrictions on the party in August 2024.

Ties with India and Pakistan

Rahman said Hasina’s continued stay in India after fleeing Dhaka was a concern, as ties between the two countries have hit their lowest point in decades since her downfall.

Hindu-majority India, South Asia’s biggest power, had cultivated a close working relationship with Hasina, helping expand business and trade ties between the neighbours.

As New Delhi seeks to engage parties that could form the next government, Rahman confirmed meeting an Indian diplomat earlier this year after his bypass surgery. Unlike diplomats from other countries who made open courtesy visits to him, the Indian official asked that the meeting remain confidential, Rahman said.

“Why? There are so many diplomats who visited me and it was made public. Where is the problem?” Rahman said. “So 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 immediately respond to a request for comment on Rahman’s statement about the meeting or any request for it to be confidential.

An Indian government source confirmed contacts with various parties, and 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 on Tuesday.

Asked about Jamaat’s historical closeness to Pakistan, Rahman said: “We maintain relations in a balanced way with all. We are never interested in leaning toward any one country. Rather, we respect all and want balanced relations among nations.”

He said any government that includes Jamaat would “not feel comfortable” with President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who was elected unopposed with the Awami League’s backing in 2023.

Shahabuddin, the ceremonial head of the country, himself told Reuters this month that he was willing to step down midway through his term.

Shahabuddin, in a telephone conversation with Reuters on Wednesday, declined to comment on Rahman’s position, saying he did not want to “complicate the matter further”.​

 

[Saif]

EU wants to know if Jamaat has complaints and its stance on relations with neighbours

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has said that the seat-sharing agreement among 11 parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, could be announced tomorrow, Tuesday. He added that the agreement could be finalised by tomorrow, or otherwise the day after. All parties will appear together before the...

en.prothomalo.com

EU wants to know if Jamaat has complaints and its stance on relations with neighbours

Staff CorrespondentDhaka
Published: 12 Jan 2026, 21: 34

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman met with a three-member delegation led by Ivars Ijabs, chief observer of the European Union (EU) election observation mission and member of the European Parliament on 12 January, 2026 Courtesy of Jamaat-e-Islami

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has said that the seat-sharing agreement among 11 parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, could be announced tomorrow, Tuesday.

He added that the negotiation could be finalised by tomorrow, or otherwise the day after. All parties will appear together before the media, he also said.

Shafiqur Rahman met with a three-member delegation led by Ivars Ijabs, chief observer of the European Union (EU) election observation mission and member of the European Parliament Monday afternoon.

He made these remarks while speaking to newspersons after the meeting at the Jamaat chief’s office in Basundhara, Dhaka.

The Jamaat-e-Islami chief said that during the meeting, the EU delegation asked Jamaat whether all parties have equal opportunities and whether there are any specific challenges or complaints.

He added that Jamaat acknowledged having complaints but informed the delegation that they will not disclose them immediately. Jamaat intends to first inform the election commission and the interim government about the complaints and challenges, and only if these are not resolved will disclose the complaints publicly.


Shafiqur Rahman further said the EU delegation asked how relations with neighbouring and other countries would be if Jamaat-e-Islami forms the government.

He said they informed the delegation that Jamaat will maintain friendly relations with all civilised, peaceful, and democratic countries. They also stated that relations with neighbours will follow the principle of neighbourliness, and Jamaat hopes neighbouring countries will act accordingly.

However, such relations must be based on mutual respect and equality, Shafiqur Rahman stressed.

Jamaat aims to advance Bangladesh by maintaining friendship and coordination with the whole world without tilting towards any specific country, he stated.

Jamaat ameer said the party is taking women’s safety seriously and believes the women of the country will choose Jamaat this time.

He said signs of this are already visible. However, women participating in Jamaat’s election campaigns are being obstructed. He said there have even been incidents of hijabs being forcibly removed. Announcements have been made to drive them away or stop them.

He added that it is the role of political parties to show respect to people of all classes, professions, ages, and genders, and no one has the right to insult anyone for purely political reasons.

Shafiqur Rahman expressed that they expect the people of Bangladesh to make the right decision in the upcoming election. He said Jamaat will try to carry the burden of the trust placed upon it properly. If the people prefer someone else, Jamaat will remain grateful to the citizens.

He added that if others join the opposition, Jamaat expects the same principle from them. He said this is essential for stability. Once the election is over, no party or political group will be able to interfere in the process of stability.

He added that the judiciary will enjoy independence, but there will also be accountability and responsibility, which will be ensured to maintain balance.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman and Ivars Ijabs, chief observer of the European Union (EU) election observation mission, during the meeting.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman and Ivars Ijabs, chief observer of the European Union (EU) election observation mission, during the meeting. Courtesy of Jamaat-e-Islami

Jamaat’s ameer Shafiqur Rahman said that the people of the country are fed up with the politics they have observed over the last 54 years and no longer wants to see that type of politics; they want change.

He added that for this change, the National Consensus Commission has held meetings month after month. Most political parties participating in the parliamentary elections have attended those meetings.

The recommendations emerging from these meetings must be considered and adopted. Parties must commit to implementing them if they come to power. Jamaat is ready to provide all kinds of support if reforms are implemented, justice is ensured, and an anti-corruption stance is maintained, he added.


EU chief election observer’s explanations of an inclusive and participatory election
The Jamaat ameer appealed to the nation, asking citizens to cooperate to ensure the upcoming election is conducted smoothly.

Stating that Jamaat supports the reforms and therefore backs a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum, he added that Jamaat believes the public also want reforms, and regardless of political stance, everyone should vote ‘yes’ in the referendum for the country’s interest.

‘Nation will pay a price if this election slips away’

A newsperson asked Jamaat ameer whether the party might boycott the election at the last moment if a proper electoral environment is not created.

In response, Shafiqur Rahman said Jamaat has taken part in every acceptable election in the country but boycotted the 2018 election, known as the midnight election. Jamaat believes such an environment will not be created this time and it should not be allowed to happen. "A free and acceptable election must be ensured at any cost and if this election also slips away it is unknown how heavy a price the nation will have to pay."

Another journalist asked whether a fair election is possible with the current administration, as many within it are reportedly known to have worked as allies of the Awami League. In response, Shafiqur Rahman said they believe those officials will change, otherwise they will be forced to change.

In response to a question about an apparent tendency of the media to lean towards one side and what he would say on the matter as the leader of what is considered the country’s second most popular party, Jamaat ameer Shafiqur Rahman said they do not consider themselves second nor do they consider themselves first. Rather, they want to leave the matter to the people as the people will decide who is first and who is second.


He said some media outlets including sections of the mainstream media appear to be leaning in favour of a particular party and while such bias may not cause major consequences in Bangladesh at present they do not expect this from the media.

He said the media must remember that it is not a party platform and should function with that understanding and this is their expectation from all media outlets.


Jamaat ameer Shafiqur Rahman also alleged that some media outlets behaved with bias during the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election.

He said Jamaat considers the people to be sufficiently aware and alert and it cannot be assumed that the public will accept everything said.

Shafiqur Rahman emphasised it is the media that must preserve dignity. Jamaat wants justice from the media and expects it to call spade a spade. He added that the media may offer criticism, but it should be based on truth.

Asked whether the EU will send any delegation for this election, Jamaat ameer Shafiqur Rahman said they will send 200 representatives this time. He said they will collect information from all districts and city corporation areas.

Earlier, at the EU delegation meeting, present with the Jamaat ameer were the party’s head of publicity and media Ehsanul Mahbub Zubayer, educationist Zubayer Ahmed, and the ameer’s foreign affairs adviser Mahmudul Hasan, among others.​

 

[Saif]

Meeting with Jamaat ameer was routine diplomatic engagement: India

India has close bilateral ties with Bangladesh, MEA spokesperson says

www.thedailystar.net

Meeting with Jamaat ameer was routine diplomatic engagement: India

India has close bilateral ties with Bangladesh, MEA spokesperson says

File photo of Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman

A fortnight after the leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami revealed that he had held a meeting with an Indian diplomat, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said the interaction was part of the routine engagements conducted by Indian diplomats in Dhaka.


“We have close bilateral ties with Bangladesh, as you are well aware. Our High Commission officials routinely meet several interlocutors,” the ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response to a question, reports Indian newspaper, The Hindu.

He added that “our interaction” with Jamaat-e-Islami “should be viewed in that context.”

In an interview with Reuters, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman had revealed in December 2025 that an Indian diplomat had met him.

Local media reported that the meeting between the Indian diplomat and Shafiqur Rahman was held earlier in 2025.

In the interview, the Jamaat-e-Islami leader noted that although his meetings with international representatives were usually made public, the Indian official had requested him to keep the meeting “secret.”

“We have to be open to everyone. There is no alternative to improving mutual relations,” he said.

Shafiqur Rahman has been meeting officials from the United States, China, and other countries ahead of Bangladesh’s February 12 election.

Diplomats are also meeting leaders of other political parties, including the BNP.​