The Influence of Islamist Political Parties in the Post-Revolution Era of Bangladesh: Between Hype and Reality – The Diplomat

In Bangladesh, religion has always been an influential factor in domestic politics. Islamist political parties have long held value as pressure groups in politics. Before the 2024 Monsoon Revolution, two major parties – the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Awami League (AL) – dominated the political landscape in Bangladesh. Although one party is center-right and the other is center-left, both are allied with Islamist political parties when it is politically advantageous.

Among the religiously based parties, Islamist political groups, particularly Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) and Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB), have often been central to political discussions. Some of the Islamist political parties in Bangladesh are labeled as “banner parties” or “one-man parties” because of their lower political contribution and lower electoral success.

While Islamist political parties often form alliances with major parties for elections, new dynamics are emerging in the post-Hasina era. It is widely predicted that AL, the party of recently ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, may not perform well in the next national elections. In addition, many political parties in Bangladesh currently have an informal commitment not to give AL to any political space. In this political vacuum, Islamist parties are exploring new alliances, with JI and IAB calling for unity among Islamist political groups for the upcoming parliamentary elections. These parties aim to establish themselves as the primary opposition in the Parliament, especially in the absence of the AL.

However, despite significant attention to political debates, the electoral results of Islamist parties in Bangladesh have been disappointing. In the 1991 national parliamentary elections, JI, which claims to be the largest Islamist group, received 12.13 percent of the popular vote, winning 18 out of 300 seats – the best performance in JI history. In the 1996 electionsthey got 8.6 percent of the vote, securing three seats; in 20014.28 percent and 17 seats and in 20084.7 percent but only 2 seats. Over time, JI’s popularity declined and in the 2001 and 2008 elections, their parliamentary seats were won only through alliances with the BNP. Given these figures, questions arise as to how JI can aspire to be a major party with such a small share of the popular vote.

JI’s Naib-e-Amir (Vice President), Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, who primarily handles the party’s diplomatic affairs, recently met ambassadors from Western and Muslim countries, as well as China and key non-state actors . He told The Diplomat: “It cannot be concluded that our vote has declined. In 1991, I contested 300 constituencies, but later, I contested only in 30-40.”

Asked if JI plans to contest 300 seats in the next election, he said, “We are still deliberating on our election strategy, but we feel that public sympathy and support for Jamaat (JI) has increased.”

Asked about the reasons for this support, Taher explained: “Jamaat (JI) and Shibir (a student ally of JI) played a role in the August 5 revolution; we all wanted this change and played a strong role in making it happen.”

On the possibility of Islamist parties uniting and contesting elections together, Taher commented: “The electoral landscape remains unclear. The issue of unity among Islamist political parties is not yet resolved, but we are looking for it. Jamaat-e-Islami believes that Bangladesh needs both strong national unity and unity among Islamist parties.”

Asked if JI aims to become the main opposition party in Parliament, he tactfully replied, “Jamaat speaks in the interest of the people and we will be satisfied with the mandate given by them.” Addressing the possibility of seeking power with the support of Islamist parties, he noted, “Nobody could have predicted the potential fall of Hasina on August 5, even a month before. We believe a similar miracle could happen in the coming elections, just like the rise of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi.”

After JI, IAB has become the most popular Islamist political party in Bangladesh in recent times. Over the past decade, the IAB has actively pursued political and religious causes, particularly during periods when JI’s political activities were unofficially restricted. However, despite its active engagement, the IAB’s influence in electoral dynamics remains limited; in the 2001 national elections, he received only 0.01% of the vote and did not secure any seats. In the 2008 elections, the Electoral Commission listed her counting votes in the “other” category. due to low turnout. Now, the IAB is exploring a potential alliance with JI.

Why did the IAB respond to JI’s call for unity despite their ideological differences and JI’s declining vote share? One possible reason is the desire for parliamentary representation in the next election, although no party publicly claims this goal.

IAB senior Naib-e-Amir Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim told The Diplomat that the alliance is currently in its initial stages, focusing on invitations. Once the alliance is fully formed, he said, all stakeholders will collectively decide the future direction. When asked if the alliance was only aimed at securing parliamentary seats with JI, he clarified: “Our call for the alliance is rooted not only in electoral success but also in the broader goals of Islam, national welfare and humanitarian concerns.”

When asked about specific partnerships with JI and ideological differences between JI and IAB, he noted that such details would only be finalized in due course.

The IAB has gained notable social and political traction, hosting dialogues and social events attended by major political parties including AL, BNP and JI. Even in the post-revolution environment, they continue discussions with center-right parties and revolutionary student leaders (Students Against Discrimination). This reflects a policy open to potential alliances between different groups.

However, IAB leaders are maintaining a firm stance on their intentions. Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim stated, “Our mission is to promote national unity based on the principles of Islam and ensure a united commitment to the welfare of the country. Through this unit, we aim to bring welfare-focused politics closer to the people.”

Another significant Islamist political entity is Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), an alliance of six Islamist parties. Until 2016, the IOJ was allied with the BNP, but a faction broke away in 2016 to form a separate group. In the 1991 election, the IOJ received 0.79% of the vote and secured a seat. In 1996, they received 1.09% of the vote and won one seat again. In 2001, they secured two seats with 0.68 percent of the popular vote, this time as an ally of the BNP.

Finally, Hefazat-e-Islam (HI) has also been a notable player on the political scene in Bangladesh. Following a crackdown by the Hasina administration in 2013, during which the human rights organization Odhikar reported 61 deathsHI has garnered significant public sympathy over the past decade.

Both IOJ and HI are likely to act as pressure groups in the next election, especially influencing voting dynamics in certain constituencies in Bangladesh.

Dr Abdul Latif Masum, a retired professor at the Department of Governance and Politics at Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, and an analyst who focuses on the BNP and Islamist political parties, told The Diplomat: “I think the alliance of Islamist political parties has potential for two reasons: firstly, global factors and secondly, the internal political dynamics of Bangladesh.

“Globally, Islamist politics has seen a revival and revival. In Bangladesh, during Hasina’s regime, Islamist parties were marginalized, yet they contributed during periods of revolution, which earned them some sympathy and support… The BNP has a less transparent past, and in the post-August 5 period, some local BNP leaders were involved in looting and land grabbing, as were AL leaders”.

Masum went on to say, “Today, we see large gatherings at the programs of Islamist political parties, but they are still struggling in the electoral arena. A bitter reality in Bangladeshi elections remains the influence of the “three ladies” (money, muscle and media), and the Islamist parties are lagging far behind in this race. On the other hand, the BNP has unprecedented support that Islamist political parties cannot overcome. While alliances of JI and other Islamist political parties may not form the government in the next election, their number of seats may still increase.”