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

Saif · Wednesday at 7:50 PM

Next polls to shape Bangladesh’s future path: Jamaat leader Taher

Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer and Cumilla-11 (Chauddagram) candidate Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher on Wednesday said the 13th parliamentary election would determine the future course of Bangladesh. “This election will decide whether Bangladesh moves forward with independence and self-respe

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Next polls to shape Bangladesh’s future path: Jamaat leader Taher

Published :
Jan 21, 2026 20:41
Updated :
Jan 21, 2026 20:41

Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer and Cumilla-11 (Chauddagram) candidate Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher on Wednesday said the 13th parliamentary election would determine the future course of Bangladesh.

“This election will decide whether Bangladesh moves forward with independence and self-respect or returns to the dark phase of the past 54 years,” he said while addressing a views-exchange meeting at a party office in Chauddagram in the ditrict in the afternoon, UNB reports.

He said the polls would also determine whether the country would revert to what he described as fascist politics or move towards building a democratic, civil and just society by safeguarding the rights of all citizens.

Dr Taher said that the election would pave the way for a new phase of national development and create an opportunity for the actual reflection of people’s opinions.

The meeting was chaired by Chauddagram Upazila Jamaat Ameer Mahfuzur Rahman.

Jamaat-e-Islami Central Majlish Shura member and Cumilla South District Ameer Advocate Mohammad Shahjahan, former district Ameer Mohammad Abdus Sattar, former upazila Ameer VP Sahab Uddin, and Municipal Ameer Maulana Ibrahim also spoke at the event.

Saif · Thursday at 8:57 PM

Jamaat pledges women’s protection, anti-corruption drive

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami officially launched its campaign for the 13th parliamentary elections on Thursday with a rally in the Dhaka-15 constituency, covering the Mirpur-Kafrul area.

www.newagebd.net

Jamaat pledges women’s protection, anti-corruption drive

Staff Correspondent 23 January, 2026, 01:00

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami amir Shafiqur Rahman addresses a public rally at Adarsha School ground in Mirpur-10 area on Thursday. | Md Saurav

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami officially launched its campaign for the 13th parliamentary elections on Thursday with a rally in the Dhaka-15 constituency, covering the Mirpur-Kafrul area.

The event, held at the Adarsha High School field at Mirpur-10, was inaugurated by the party amir and Dhaka-15 candidate, Shafiqur Rahman.

The rally was chaired by local Jamaat leader Abdur Rahan Musa and drew a large crowd of party supporters who chanted slogans in support of the party’s election campaign.

Speaking at the event, Shafiqur emphasised the party’s commitment to building a future Bangladesh with the participation of both men and women.

‘We will not allow any repression against women and will resist those who seek to neglect them,’ he said.

He likened women to mothers, pledging that Jamaat-e-Islami, if voted to power, would ensure their safety and security in society.

Shafiqur also highlighted the party’s focus on justice and anti-corruption measures.

‘We aim to establish a society where corruption has no place. I call on all party members to avoid any involvement in corruption or immoral activities in the future democratic Bangladesh,’ he said.

He urged voters to cast their ballots in favour of ‘Yes’ in the referendum against fascist forces and pledged that Jamaat candidates would ensure extortion-free constituencies, if elected.

National Citizen Party convener Nahid Islam, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party spokesman Rashed Prodhan, and Jamaat central leaders Ehsanul Mahboob Jubaier, Saiful Alam Khan, Mir Ahmed Bin Kashem and Abdul Baten also spoke on the occasion.

Saif · Thursday at 9:06 PM

US seeks to be ‘friends’ with Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami : US media

With Bangladesh’s national election knocking at the door, Washington Post reported on Thursday that US diplomats are looking to step up their engagement with once-banned Jamaat-e-Islami citing audio recordings.

www.newagebd.net

US seeks to be ‘friends’ with Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami : US media
New Age Desk 22 January, 2026, 22:34

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Isami amir Shafiqur Rahman leads a marathon organised by the youth wing of the party at Suhrawardy Udyan to mark Victory Day in December 2025. | New Age photo

With Bangladesh’s national election knocking at the door, Washington Post reported on Thursday that US diplomats are looking to step up their engagement with once-banned Jamaat-e-Islami citing audio recordings.

The Jamaat-e-Islami has been banned multiple times in the country’s history, including before the fall of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024.

The party has traditionally advocated for governing by sharia law and reducing work hours for women to help them ‘fulfill their duties toward their children,’ but it has recently sought to soften its public image and expand its support base — saying it is now mainly focused on rooting out corruption, reported Washington Post.

As the political landscape changes in Bangladesh, American diplomats there have signaled they are open to working with the resurgent Islamist movement. In a December 1 closed-door meeting with female Bangladeshi journalists, a U S diplomat based in Dhaka said the country has ‘shifted Islamic’ and predicted Jamaat-e-Islami would ‘do better than it’s ever done before’ in the Feb. 12 election, according to the audio recordings, read the report uploaded online on Thursday.

‘We want them to be our friends,’ the diplomat said, asking if the reporters in the room would be willing to bring members of the party’s influential student wing on their programs: ‘Can you talk to them?’ he asked. ‘Will they go on your show?’ added the report.

According to the report, in a statement to The Post, Monica Shie, the spokesperson for the U S Embassy in Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, said ‘the conversation that took place in December was a routine gathering, off-the-record discussion between US Embassy officials and local journalists.’ She added that ‘numerous political parties were discussed’ during the meeting and that ‘the United States does not favour one political party over another and plans to work with whichever government is elected by the Bangladeshi people.’

Mohammad Rahman, the US spokesperson for Jamaat-e-Islami, said in a statement that ‘we choose not to comment on the context of remarks reportedly made during a private diplomatic meeting.’

The uprising against Hasina paved the way for the formation of an interim government led by the Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus and for the upcoming elections — meant to mark a decisive democratic turn for Bangladesh after decades of instability, the report said.

The American outreach to Jamaat-e-Islami could ‘potentially drive another wedge between the U S and India,’ said Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow for South Asia at the Atlantic Council. Relations between the countries are already at a low point, owing to disagreements over India’s recent conflict with Pakistan, its purchases of Russian oil, an unfinished trade deal and punishing U S tariffs on many Indian products, the report said.

Since Hasina’s ouster in 2024, Jamaat-e-Islami has held four meetings in Washington with U.S. officials and ‘several’ meetings in Dhaka, Mohammad Rahman said in his statement to The Post. The party leader also met virtually with US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer on Friday, reported Washington Post.

The State Department declined to comment on the Washington meetings and described the meetings with Jamaat-e-Islami in Dhaka as part of ‘routine diplomatic work.’ The USTR did not respond to a request for comment, said the report.

Saif · 2026-01-23T19:22:11-0500

Jamaat chief Shafiqur sets three conditions for 'collaborative’ governance

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has promised to build the nation inclusively if his party is given the chance to form the government, while laying out three conditions for governance. He addressed a large election rally of the 10-party alliance at Thakurgaon Government Boys’ High Schoo

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Jamaat chief Shafiqur sets three conditions for 'collaborative’ governance

bdnews24.com
Published :
Jan 23, 2026 18:37
Updated :
Jan 23, 2026 18:37

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has promised to build the nation inclusively if his party is given the chance to form the government, while laying out three conditions for governance.

He addressed a large election rally of the 10-party alliance at Thakurgaon Government Boys’ High School ground on Friday, saying he intends to include all groups in nation-building.

He emphasised that Bangladesh cannot be developed by a single party and must be built through national unity.

He reminded Thakurgaon residents of their repeated support for different leaders in past elections, urging them to vote for the coalition representing the country’s freedom-minded citizens.

The Jamaat chief outlined three conditions for collaboration.

Firstly, there must be no corruption, neither personally nor by sheltering corrupt individuals.

Secondly, justice must be guaranteed for all citizens regardless of wealth, gender, religion, or social background, with a fully independent judiciary free from political influence.

Thirdly, he pledged to eliminate systemic “inequality and abuses” that have affected the country over the last 52 years, targeting misgovernance, extortion, and regional disparities.

Shafiqur said reform proposals submitted to a national referendum will be implemented if endorsed by voters.

He added that Jamaat does not seek single-party rule but a people-led government including scholars, skilled citizens, and patriotic groups, rejecting dominance by any single faction.

He urged voters to elect leaders who uphold integrity, respect citizens, and prevent extortion.

Shafiqur promised that if elected, his government will transform northern Bangladesh into an agricultural hub.

Saiddpur Airport will be upgraded to international standards to support industrial growth and agro-based sectors, ensuring products reach national and global markets efficiently.

He pledged to reduce unemployment through advanced education and vocational training, aiming to transform households into small-scale industrial units, citing Japan, Vietnam, and China as examples of successful models.

Saif · 2026-01-23T19:26:07-0500

US seeks to be 'friends' with Jamaat-e-Islami: Washington Post

As the Jamaat-e-Islami readies for its strongest showing at the polls next month, US diplomats are quietly signalling a willingness to engage with the once-banned party, reports The Washington Post, citing audio recordings it says it obtained. The party, historically outlawed under successive gove

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

US seeks to be 'friends' with Jamaat-e-Islami: Washington Post

bdnews24.com
Published :
Jan 23, 2026 11:38
Updated :
Jan 23, 2026 11:38

As the Jamaat-e-Islami readies for its strongest showing at the polls next month, US diplomats are quietly signalling a willingness to engage with the once-banned party, reports The Washington Post, citing audio recordings it says it obtained.

The party, historically outlawed under successive governments -- most recently by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina before her 2024 ouster, has long championed Shariah-based governance.

If elected to power, Jamaat has vowed reduced work hours for women, citing family duties, also seeking to recast itself as an anti-corruption force, softening its image to appeal to a broader electorate, the report added.

In a December 1 closed-door discussion with female Bangladeshi journalists, a US diplomat in Dhaka described the country as “shifted Islamic” and predicted that Jamaat would “do better than it’s ever done before” in the Feb 12 elections, The Washington Post said, citing the audio recording.

“We want them to be our friends,” the official added, asking whether journalists could bring members of the party’s “influential student wing” -- Islami Chhatra Shibir -- onto their programmes.

The diplomat, whom The Post said it is not naming for security reasons, downplayed worries that Jamaat-e-Islami would try to force its interpretation of Islamic law on Bangladesh, saying Washington had leverage it was prepared to use.

Meaning any concerning moves would prompt immediate economic consequences. “We would have 100 percent tariffs put on them the next day,” the diplomat said.

Monica Shie, spokesperson for the US Embassy in Dhaka, told The Post that the December gathering was “a routine, off-the-record discussion between US Embassy officials and local journalists,” adding that “numerous political parties were discussed” and that “the United States does not favour one political party over another and plans to work with whichever government is elected by the Bangladeshi people.”

Mohammad Rahman, Jamaat’s US spokesperson, said in a statement that “we choose not to comment on the context of remarks reportedly made during a private diplomatic meeting”, as quoted in The Post.

The comments provide insight into US diplomatic strategy in Bangladesh as the country undergoes a crucial political transition.

Hasina’s ouster led to an interim government headed by Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus, paving the way for elections intended to mark a democratic turning point.

Analysts warn that US outreach to Jamaat could “potentially drive another wedge between the US and India”, said Michael Kugelman, senior fellow for South Asia at the Atlantic Council.

India has long viewed the party as a regional security threat due to its historic ties with Pakistan.

Bangladesh’s complex political history -- independence from Pakistan in 1971, decades of military coups, and alternating civilian governments -- shapes current dynamics.

Relations with India are already strained following Hasina’s exile in India and subsequent death sentence in absentia. Recent communal violence against Hindus has added to tensions, the report added.

The Jamaat-e-Islami, which once faced political bans, is now “mainstream”, according to Mubashar Hasan, a Bangladesh politics expert at Western Sydney University.

The party’s stated platform focuses on “anti-corruption, transparency, accountability, and good governance”, and proposals to reduce women’s work hours remain preliminary, with no plans to implement sharia law, Mohammad Rahman was quoted as saying.

The party’s main rival is the BNP, led by Tarique Rahman, who returned to Dhaka from self-imposed exile in London in late December.

Tarique has privately expressed confidence in Jamaat’s electoral performance but does not plan to integrate the party into a potential coalition government, the report added.

Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman has indicated openness to working with the BNP, recalling the party’s junior role in a BNP-led government between 2001 and 2006.

Since Hasina’s removal, Jamaat has met with US officials in both Washington and Dhaka, including a virtual meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

The State Department described these interactions as “routine diplomatic work”, declining further comment.

India, meanwhile, continues to view the party warily, having labelled its Kashmir chapter an “unlawful group” in 2019 and renewed the designation in 2024, The Post said.

The US diplomat emphasised that Washington would respond decisively to any policies undermining socially liberal norms, citing Bangladesh’s garment industry, which supplies 20 per cent of US imports.

“If Bangladesh tells women they can only work five hours… or imposes Shariah law, there will be no more orders. And if there are no more orders, there will be no Bangladeshi economy,” the official was quoted as saying.

Yet they remained confident that Jamaat-e-Islami’s pool of “educated leaders” would avoid such measures.

Jamaat’s publicity chief Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair on Thursday night dismissed the report as merely a journalist’s “observation”.

Speaking to bdnews24.com around 10:45 pm, he said: “These are just the observations of a newspaper and one of its reporters. The country’s situation cannot truly be captured in a single report.”

With a national election approaching, Zubair said: “Bangladesh had moved past ‘fascism’, reforms were under way and trials were ongoing, which was why many international and local outlets were publishing such reports.

“Al Jazeera has also done a report -- I have looked at it -- but in the end, it is the people’s position that matters,” he said.

Asked whether Jamaat would protest or condemn the report, Zubair said the party would first study it in full and then decide its next course of action.