In Bangladesh, religion has been a pivotal factor in shaping the local political scene. Islamist political organizations have historically played a critical role as lobby groups within the political sphere. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Awami League were the two primary political forces until the Monsoon Revolution of 2024. Despite their ideological differences, both parties strategically partnered with Islamist political entities whenever beneficial.
Several religious-based political entities, particularly Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Oikya Jote, and Islami Andolon Bangladesh, have frequently been at the center of political discourse. However, many of these parties have been tagged as “banner parties” or “one-man-army parties,” due to their limited political participation and electoral success.
Despite their historical alliances with major parties, the post-Hasina era has seen Islamist parties searching for new alliances. With the Awami League’s declining popularity and growing reluctance by other political parties to provide them political space, these Islamist entities, including Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolon Bangladesh, are working towards unity for the forthcoming parliamentary elections. They hope to establish themselves as the main opposition in Parliament, especially in the absence of the Awami League.
However, despite their prominence in political debates, Bangladesh’s Islamist political entities have had less than impressive electoral results. Jamaat-e-Islami’s best performance was in the 1991 national parliamentary election, where they won 18 out of 300 seats with 12.13 percent of the popular vote. Since then, their popularity has been on a steady decline, with their parliamentary seats in the 2001 and 2008 elections only achieved through alliances with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Nevertheless, the Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, remains optimistic. Taher has been engaging with ambassadors from Western and Muslim countries, as well as China, and key non-state actors. He believes that the public’s support for Jamaat-e-Islami has grown, and the party is still contemplating its political strategy for the next election.
Another Islamist political entity gaining popularity in Bangladesh is Islami Andolon Bangladesh. Despite its active engagement in political and religious causes over the past decade, IAB’s influence in electoral dynamics remains limited. Even so, IAB is now considering an alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami.
Moreover, IAB has garnered considerable social and political traction, hosting dialogues and social events attended by major political entities, including the Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and Jamaat-e-Islami. They aim to bring welfare-focused politics closer to the people through unity based on the principles of Islam.
Other notable Islamist political entities include Islami Oikya Jote, an alliance of six Islamist parties, and Hefazat-e-Islam, which gained significant public sympathy following a crackdown by the Hasina administration in 2013. Both organizations are expected to influence the vote dynamics in the upcoming elections.
Dr. Abdul Latif Masum, a retired professor and an analyst focused on Bangladesh’s political landscape, believes the alliance of Islamist political entities has potential due to global factors and the internal political dynamics of Bangladesh. Despite their struggle in the electoral arena, Masum predicts that while they may not form the government in the next election, their seat count could still increase.
