An Islamist social gathering turns into Bangladesh’s major opposition for the primary time : NPR

DHAKA, Bangladesh – An Islamist social gathering has turn out to be Bangladesh’s major opposition for the primary time within the nation’s historical past, difficult the outdated dynastic political system regardless of persistent considerations amongst critics in regards to the social gathering’s insurance policies on ladies.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s 11-party alliance received 77 of 300 seats in final week’s polls, in response to last outcomes introduced by the nation’s election fee on Sunday. Of these, Jamaat received 68, a file excessive. It had by no means earlier than received greater than 18 seats. The scholar-led Nationwide Citizen Celebration (NCP) received six and the rest went to minor events.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Celebration (BNP) received a landslide 212 seats, giving it the two-thirds majority and setting Tarique Rahman, who hails from a robust political household, on target to turn out to be prime minister. Developments in Bangladesh are being intently watched past its borders. It’s the world’s eighth-most populous nation and second-largest garment exporter after China, supplying main manufacturers to Europe and america – a place the BNP will probably be eager to guard.

The nation’s different main social gathering, the Awami League, was banned from participating within the polls. Its chief, former autocratic prime minister Sheikh Hasina, fled the nation after the lethal 2024 student-led rebellion that toppled her authorities and paved the best way for this vote.

Individuals provide Friday prayers on a highway outdoors a mosque a day after the nationwide parliamentary election in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.

Anupam Nath/AP

cover caption

toggle caption

Anupam Nath/AP

Jamaat-e-Islami’s chief, Shafiqur Rahman, who isn’t associated to the BNP’s Tarique Rahman, initially claimed there had been irregularities throughout voting. He later conceded defeat and mentioned in an announcement: “We acknowledge the general end result and we respect the rule of legislation. We’ll function a vigilant, principled, and peaceable opposition, holding the federal government to account.”

A shocking end result after a long time on the periphery

Jamaat’s end result has come as a shock to many, partly as a result of the social gathering opposed Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 and sided with Pakistan throughout the warfare.

On the time, its leaders had been accused of committing widespread atrocities, together with rape, torture and homicide — accusations the social gathering has constantly rejected.

A few of its senior members had been tried and located responsible of these crimes in a specifically fashioned courtroom from 2010 to 2013, when the Awami League was in energy. Some got demise sentences, whereas others obtained life imprisonment. Jamaat maintains that the trials had been politically motivated.

The social gathering was additionally banned at numerous occasions, most lately by the Awami League in 2023. The ban was lifted following the 2024 rebellion, permitting Jamaat to reemerge as a serious electoral contender.

“Many citizens are younger, they usually do not wish to stay up to now. They wish to construct their future. Jamaat has been saying issues that appear extra sensible and achievable,” Maimul Ahsan Khan, a retired legislation professor of legislation at Dhaka College, informed NPR.

Nevertheless, he added, “I feel Jamaat would have gotten much more seats if it didn’t have the previous baggage of affinity to Pakistan and 1971.”

Girls queue as much as forged their vote at a polling station throughout Bangladesh’s nationwide parliamentary election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.

Mahmud Hossain Opu/AP

cover caption

toggle caption

Mahmud Hossain Opu/AP

Observers say the end result could mark simply step one for Jamaat in rebuilding its political affect.

“With 77 seats, we now have practically quadrupled our parliamentary presence and turn out to be one of many strongest opposition blocs in fashionable Bangladeshi politics. That’s not a setback. That may be a basis,” mentioned Shafiqur Rahman.

Civil rights considerations

Whereas greater than 90 p.c of Bangladesh’s inhabitants is Muslim, its political system ensures equal rights for minority religions.

Though Jamaat has Sharia — or Islamic — legislation enshrined in its structure, it has lately softened its public picture, taking a extra reasonable tone on faith and saying it would respect Bangladesh’s political system.

It fielded one Hindu candidate throughout the election however no ladies, and Shafiqur Rahman has publicly mentioned no lady can lead the social gathering.

Nevertheless, Jon Danilowicz, an impartial political analyst and retired former diplomat who served in Bangladesh, informed NPR that violence towards minority teams in Bangladesh has a protracted historical past and is usually pushed by components moreover ideology alone.

“Usually it is pushed by economics and different points,” he says, and minority teams have “been equally victimized by the BNP and Awami League.”

Danilowicz says that regarding the social gathering’s remedy of ladies, “they body it as safety and security and when it comes to household and preserving the position of ladies inside a household construction.”

Jamaat’s first exams are to reveal that it may well maintain the brand new authorities accountable and to implement the July Nationwide Constitution — a set of reforms to forestall a return to autocracy — which may assist to reassure hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis who nonetheless mistrust the social gathering.