While Rahman, 68, referred to as the Ameer (Chief) of the Jamaat-e-Islami, has cast his aspersions on the final outcome of the polls, he did admit that the party has “quadrupled” its presence in the Bangladesh Parliament and will become “one of the strongest opposition blocs in modern Bangladeshi politics.” Being a small party compared to BNP, the Jamaat-e-Islami was able to give a fight by winning 53 seats on its own.
Who is Shafiqur Rahman?So, who is Shafiqur Rahman, the man who sold the dream of a “New Bangladesh” to the people of that country, who rose up in revolt against the Awami League government that ruled Bangladesh for decades and led to the ouster of its former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
People from all walks of life—from the bustling urban centres of Dhaka to the serene tea gardens of Sylhet—are now drawn to his ideals. A party that used to be labelled as the party of “razakars,” are now hailed by the Bangladeshis as an organisation that is “structured, disciplined, organised and meticulous,” as one Dhaka-based political analyst said on condition of anonymity.
In the context of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, “razakar” referred to members of a pro-Pakistani paramilitary force that collaborated with the Pakistan Army to suppress the independence movement.
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Rahman was elected as the 8th Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on November 12, 2019, following unsuccessful attempts in national elections in 1996, 2001, and 2018. He was re-elected as the Ameer for subsequent terms in 2022 and most recently in November 2025 for the 2026–2028 term. Rahman rose through the ranks steadily within the party due to his ability to grasp the pulse of Bangladesh’s youth today who want to write a new history of Bangladesh – one that does not only begin from 1971.
A trained physician, having earned his MBBS degree, Rahman initially participated in a leftist student organization before joining Jamaat-e-Islami in 1984. Therefore, amalgamating with the students’ mindset “comes naturally to him” as many students in Bangladesh claim.
‘Message of transformation’
In the run up to the elections at several of his mega rallies Rahman conveyed a message of transformation, declaring that the days when Jamaat operated in fear and obscurity were behind them. He emphasized that the current Jamaat-e-Islami party is in tune with the aspirations and vision of Bangladesh’s youth, who now look beyond the shadows of the 1971 Liberation War, embracing a new narrative that resonates more meaningfully with their hopes for the future.
Another reason why the Ameer is able to resonate with the youth is his inert knack for technology. He has given hope to the millions of Bangladeshi youth that the country is no more a “basket case” – a dismissive label applied to Bangladesh at its birth in 1971 to suggest the new nation was an economic failure that would permanently depend on foreign aid.
Time and again Rahman has emphasized investment in technology-driven agriculture, manufacturing, and information technology. Many in Bangladesh claim, in this election, that Jamaat just tested the waters. They knew from the beginning they will not win but they were able to give a tough fight to the BNP.
‘Colourful’ ties with India
My meeting with the Ameer in Dhaka’s Sheraton, just days before the 12 February polls, turned out to be quite memorable – something that both sides will continue to ponder for a long time to come. I had a face-to-face encounter with the Ameer for the first time on February 4 when the Islamist party launched its ambitious election manifesto in which it vowed to transform Bangladesh’s economy to a
$2 trillion economy by 2040.During the launch, I asked the Ameer, how does he envision Jamaat-e-Islami’s ties with India, if and whenever they come to power in Bangladesh. He said, “Colourful”, by pointing towards the chandeliers of the Hotel Sheraton, located in upmarket Banani, Dhaka.
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In stark contrast to other political parties, especially the BNP led by Tarique Rahman, the Ameer of Jamaat made a point of warmly engaging with attendees during the launch of their manifesto. The unveiling of the manifesto was seamless, with each segment executed precisely on schedule.
Now that the Jamaat will be in the opposition, India will have to engage with the party even as the party is expected to get considerable representation when the upper house of the Parliament gets created. The Ameer has said they will be a “strong opposition” party now. In other words, the party will keep considerable pressure on the ruling BNP on issues such as Hasina’s return from India and sharing of water of the India-Bangladesh transboundary rivers.
In its poll manifesto, Jamaat had said it will maintain “constructive, peaceful, friendly and cooperative” relations with all its neighbouring countries, including India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Thailand. However, what has become a cause of concern for many in India is its defence policy.
It also mentioned in the manifesto that it will roll out a National Defence Policy and develop a new military doctrine that will supplement that policy. This the Ameer said will be done keeping in mind, “contemporary global realities and evolving defence challenges.”
Despite being defeated in the polls, the party will continue to push the BNP on these lines.
India has been reaching out to the Jamaat since its resurgence in the political landscape of Bangladesh has come to the fore. The Ameer was also invited to attend the Republic Day reception organised by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Rahman had sent his deputy Mia Golam Parwar, Secretary General of the party to attend the reception.
In October 2025 during his visit to New York, US, Rahman had said, “If we get the opportunity to govern the country, our relationship with India will be based on mutual respect. People can change their place of residence, but they cannot change their neighbours. We want to respect our neighbour, and we expect the same respect in return.”
He further said, “India is 26 times larger than Bangladesh in size. Their resources and manpower are far greater than ours. We respect them considering their position. However, they must also respect the existence of our small territory and its nearly 180 million people. This is our demand. If this happens, both neighbours will not only live well but will also bring mutual honour in the global arena.”
Past, present and future of Jamaat-e-Islami
After the considerable electoral gains in the polls, Ameer has instructed his party to prepare for a major role to be played in the soon to be created upper house in the Bangladesh Parliament.
The Parliament of Bangladesh is transitioning from a unicameral to a bicameral system following the approval of the July National Charter in a nationwide referendum held on February 12.
The party, therefore, is now one of the key political forces that will influence Bangladesh’s future now.
Founded in 1941 by Maulana Maududi in British India, it initially opposed the partition of India and later became the East Pakistani wing of the party. Jamaat is widely criticised for its active opposition to Bangladesh’s independence, with many of its top leaders later convicted of war crimes by the International Crimes Tribunal. Jamaat viewed the nationalist movement as a “Hindu conspiracy” backed by India to dismantle Pakistan.
After Bangladesh gained independence in 1971, Jamaat-e-Islami was initially banned for its opposition to the liberation war. The ban was lifted in the late 1970s, and the party was officially re-established in its current sovereign form in May 1979.
