Bangladesh’s Jamaat Signals Willingness to Join Unity Government After February Elections

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, once banned from political participation, has indicated it is open to joining a national unity government following the country’s parliamentary elections scheduled for February, as it prepares for its strongest electoral performance in nearly two decades.

In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, Jamaat Ameer (President) Shafiqur Rahman said the party has already held discussions with multiple political groups, underscoring its readiness to cooperate in forming a stable government if post-election arithmetic requires it.

Opinion polls suggest Jamaat is on track to finish a close second behind the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), marking a significant return to mainstream politics after almost 17 years. The party last held power between 2001 and 2006 as a junior coalition partner of the BNP.

“Our priority is national stability for at least the next five years,” Rahman said. “If political parties agree to work together, we are prepared to jointly run the government.”

Jamaat has recently drawn attention by forging an alliance with a youth-led, Gen Z–backed political party, reflecting efforts to expand its appeal beyond its traditional conservative base.

While Jamaat advocates governance guided by Islamic principles, Rahman emphasized that anti-corruption would be a non-negotiable pillar of any unity government. He said the post of prime minister should go to the party that secures the largest number of seats in parliament.

“If Jamaat wins the most seats, we will decide at that time whether I would be a candidate,” he added.

The party’s resurgence follows the dramatic ouster of long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a youth-led uprising in August 2024. Hasina’s Awami League, which had maintained a hardline stance against Jamaat, is now barred from contesting the upcoming election.

During Hasina’s tenure, several Jamaat leaders were sentenced to death over alleged war crimes committed during Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war—charges the party has long rejected. Jamaat itself was banned from elections in 2013 after a court ruled its charter conflicted with the country’s secular constitution.

That ban was lifted in August 2024 by an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, paving the way for Jamaat’s political comeback.

Rahman also addressed Bangladesh’s strained relations with India following Hasina’s departure to New Delhi. He said her continued stay there has contributed to the lowest point in bilateral ties in decades.

As India seeks engagement with parties likely to form the next government, Rahman confirmed he met an Indian diplomat earlier this year, though the meeting was kept discreet at the diplomat’s request.

“There is no alternative to improving relationships,” Rahman said. “We must remain open to all.”

India’s foreign ministry did not immediately comment, though a government source confirmed New Delhi has maintained contact with multiple Bangladeshi political actors.

Responding to questions about Jamaat’s historical links with Pakistan, Rahman said the party favors balanced relations with all countries and rejects alignment with any single foreign power.

Rahman also said a government that includes Jamaat would find it difficult to continue working with President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who was elected unopposed in 2023 with Awami League support. Shahabuddin, who holds a ceremonial role, recently told Reuters he would consider stepping down before completing his term.

Contacted on Wednesday, Shahabuddin declined to comment on Jamaat’s position, saying he did not wish to further complicate the situation.

With Bangladesh approaching a pivotal election, Jamaat’s re-entry into competitive politics could significantly reshape the country’s political landscape and post-election power balance.