The Resurgence of Jamaat-e-Islami: A Threat to Bangladesh's Secular Foundation and Regional Stability
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Context and Historical Background
Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture in its political evolution as the once-banned Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami positions itself for a remarkable electoral comeback. According to Reuters reporting, the party has announced its openness to joining a national unity government following February’s pivotal vote, marking a dramatic political resurrection for an organization that faced a 17-year ban until its lifting in 2024. This development occurs against the backdrop of Sheikh Hasina’s ouster and represents a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape that demands careful analysis and principled critique.
Jamaat-e-Islami President Shafiqur Rahman has articulated a seemingly pragmatic approach, emphasizing anti-corruption and stability as key priorities while indicating the party’s willingness to engage in coalition politics. The party has confirmed discreet contact with Indian diplomats and maintains it seeks balanced relations with all nations, including historical ties to Pakistan. Polls project Jamaat will finish second behind the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in its first electoral contest since the ban was lifted, potentially positioning it as a kingmaker in the formation of the next government.
The Strategic Pivot and Its Implications
The party’s openness to coalition governance signals a strategic pivot toward pragmatism, ostensibly prioritizing governance and stability over purely ideological aims. This shift could potentially reassure both domestic voters and international observers concerned about the party’s historical positions. However, this apparent moderation must be viewed with appropriate skepticism given the party’s controversial history and the profound implications its return to power would have for Bangladesh’s constitutional identity.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin, seen as aligned with the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, could face significant pressure to resign early if a Jamaat-inclusive government takes power, potentially triggering a fresh constitutional transition. The discreet Indian diplomatic outreach reflects New Delhi’s attempt to engage with all possible players in Dhaka, amid concerns over Hasina’s exile in India and strained bilateral ties. This realpolitik approach, while understandable from a strategic perspective, raises serious questions about the consistency of democratic principles in international relations.
The Dangerous Normalization of Extremist Politics
The potential return of Jamaat-e-Islami to mainstream politics represents a dangerous normalization of extremist elements that have historically opposed Bangladesh’s secular foundation. This development must be understood within the broader context of Western geopolitical maneuvering that often prioritizes strategic interests over democratic values and human rights. The international community’s apparent willingness to engage with a party whose leaders were convicted of war crimes demonstrates the hypocrisy of selective application of international law and democratic principles.
We must recognize this development as part of a broader pattern where Global South nations are pressured to accommodate regressive political forces under the guise of democratic pluralism. The West’s historical support for various Islamist movements as counterweights to secular nationalist leaders reveals a cynical approach to foreign policy that ultimately undermines genuine democratic development. Bangladesh’s experience with religious extremism and its hard-won secular identity should not be sacrificed at the altar of geopolitical expediency.
The Threat to Regional Stability and Sovereignty
The potential inclusion of Jamaat-e-Islami in government could fundamentally reshape Bangladesh’s foreign policy orientation, particularly toward Pakistan and India. This shift threatens to disrupt regional stability and could undermine the progress made in South Asian cooperation. The party’s historical ties to Pakistan and its ambiguous stance on relations with India represent a significant challenge to the existing regional balance.
India’s discreet engagement with Islamist factions, while perhaps tactically necessary, represents a dangerous compromise with principles that should remain non-negotiable. The balancing act between engaging with potential governing partners and protecting strategic interests such as connectivity projects and security cooperation must not come at the expense of supporting secular, democratic forces in Bangladesh. This approach risks legitimizing forces that fundamentally oppose the pluralistic vision that should guide South Asian development.
The Constitutional and Identity Crisis
Perhaps most alarmingly, Jamaat’s presence in a coalition government could push for symbolic Islamic policy measures while focusing on corruption and economic issues to broaden its appeal beyond its conservative base. This strategy represents a Trojan horse approach to implementing religious agenda under the cover of pragmatic governance. The potential polarization of Bangladesh’s political landscape could reignite dangerous debates over secularism, war crimes accountability, and the role of religion in state affairs.
Bangladesh’s constitutional identity as a secular state represents a hard-won achievement following its liberation struggle. The potential erosion of this foundation under the pressure of coalition politics and realpolitik considerations would constitute a tragic reversal of historical progress. The international community, particularly those nations claiming to support democratic values, must take a principled stand against this dangerous development rather than engaging in cynical calculations of strategic advantage.
Conclusion: A Call for Principled Opposition
The resurgence of Jamaat-e-Islami represents not just a domestic political development but a test of the international community’s commitment to genuine democratic principles. We must oppose the normalization of extremist politics regardless of strategic considerations and support the forces of secular democracy in Bangladesh. The Global South must resist external pressures to accommodate regressive elements and maintain its commitment to progressive, inclusive governance.
The potential return of Jamaat-e-Islami to power serves as a stark reminder that the struggle against imperialism and religious extremism remains ongoing. We must stand in solidarity with the secular forces in Bangladesh and across the Global South that continue to fight for progressive values against both external interference and internal regression. The international community’s response to this development will reveal whether principles or pragmatism ultimately guide global politics.