By Admin 
Nearly one and a half years after former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left power and left the country, now the time for elections has come. Sheikh Hasina’s party Awami League has been banned from contesting the general elections to be held in February. In such a situation, the possibility of the biggest ever demonstration of the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami is being expressed. Meanwhile, America has increased its contacts and dialogue with the largest Islamist party of Bangladesh.
According to the Washington Post report, American diplomats have indicated that they are ready to work with Jamaat-e-Islami. This is the same party which has been banned several times in Bangladesh, the most recent of which was during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. In a closed-door meeting with women journalists in Dhaka on December 1, an American diplomat said that Bangladesh has now shifted in the Islamic direction. He predicted that Jamaat-e-Islami will give its best performance so far in the elections to be held on February 12. According to the audio recording, the diplomat said, ‘We want them to be our friends.’ She also asked journalists whether she would be ready to invite members of the party’s student wing to her programs.
Concerns about Sharia law dismissed
The American diplomat also downplayed the fear that Jamaat-e-Islami could implement Sharia law in Bangladesh. He said that if this happens, America will impose 100 percent tariff on it the very next day. However, Monica Shai, spokeswoman for the US Embassy in Dhaka, told The Washington Post that the conversation was a “routine and off-the-record discussion” in which several political parties were discussed. He made it clear that America does not support any one party and it will work only with the government that the people of Bangladesh will elect.
Controversial history of Jamaat-e-Islami
Jamaat-e-Islami was founded in 1941 by Islamic thinker Syed Abul Ala Maududi. The party had opposed the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan. During the 1971 war, senior leaders of Jamaat supported the Pakistani Army and were accused of being involved in the killing of thousands of pro-independence civilians. After returning to power in 2009, Sheikh Hasina tried Jamaat leaders for war crimes under the International Criminal Tribunal and banned the party. After this action, the Jamaat became politically marginalized for a long time.
Political picture changed after 2024
The ban on Jamaat-e-Islami was lifted after Sheikh Hasina was removed from power following the student movement in 2024. After this, the party re-organized itself and established itself as a major political force. The party has increased its support base under the leadership of Shafiqur Rehman, Mia Golam Parwar and Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher. The Jamaat has traditionally advocated Sharia-based governance and policies such as limiting women’s working time, but in recent years it has tried to soften its image and emphasize anti-corruption issues. The party has recently formed an alliance with the National Citizen Party (NCP), which emerged from the student movement, although there was opposition within the NCP regarding this alliance.
India’s increased concern
American contact with Jamaat-e-Islami is considered a matter of concern for India. India had declared Jamaat-e-Islami an illegal organization in Kashmir in 2019 and extended the ban again till 2024. Thomas Keen of the International Crisis Group told Al-Jazeera that if Jamaat comes to power, it will be even more difficult to get India-Bangladesh relations back on track. He says that due to domestic politics, coordination between the Jamaat and the BJP government of India will be difficult.
There is a possibility of impact on India-America relations also
Experts believe that America’s inclination towards Jamaat may also increase tension in India-US relations, which are already under pressure over issues like US tariffs, India-Pakistan tensions and oil purchases from Russia.
Important elections on February 12
The main contest in the elections to be held on February 12 is likely to be between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami. Jamaat has indicated that it is ready to work with BNP if needed.
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