Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami Open to Unity Government After February Elections

Jamaat-e-Islami, a once-banned Bangladeshi Islamist party, has expressed its willingness to join a unity government following the February 2026 parliamentary elections. In an interview on December 31, Jamaat’s Ameer (President) Shafiqur Rahman revealed that the party has engaged in discussions with several political groups, including its old ally, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
 

According to opinion polls, Jamaat-e-Islami is expected to finish second behind BNP in the upcoming election, marking its return to mainstream politics after nearly 17 years. Rahman emphasized the party’s commitment to stability, saying, "We want to see a stable nation for at least five years. If the parties come together, we’ll run the government together."

Jamaat, which advocates Islamic governance under Sharia law, has broadened its appeal beyond its conservative base. Rahman stressed that anti-corruption measures must be central to any unity government. The prime minister will be decided by the party that wins the most seats, and Jamaat would choose its candidate if it leads.

The party's resurgence comes after the downfall oflong-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and it is now seeking to re-establish its position in Bangladesh's political landscape. Rahman also spoke about the party’s balanced approach to foreign relations, maintaining cordial ties with both India and Pakistan.
 

Jamaat’s return to politics follows a lifting of its electoral ban by an interim government in August 2024, after a court ruled in its favor.