What is Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami party? Could it lead the country next?

Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami party, an Islamist political group, has a significant chance of gaining power in the upcoming February 12th general election. This election follows a student-led uprising in August 2024 that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose Awami League party was subsequently banned. The election is primarily between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and an alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, which includes the National Citizen Party and other Islamist groups. Recent polls indicate Jamaat-e-Islami is closing in on the BNP, its senior coalition partner, suggesting a potential shift in the country's political landscape. A victory for the Jamaat-led alliance would be a major turnaround for the party, which faced a crackdown during Hasina's rule.

Ahead of Bangladesh's February 12 elections, a dispute over dual citizenship eligibility for candidates has become a major political flashpoint. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the National Citizen Party (NCP) have both accused the Election Commission of bias regarding the acceptance of candidates with dual citizenship. Under Bangladeshi law, foreign citizens cannot contest elections, leading to scrutiny of 25 candidates suspected of holding dual citizenship. After reviewing objections, the Election Commission upheld the candidacy of 23 individuals, including members of the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and Khelafat Majlis, after they provided documentation of renouncing or applying to renounce their foreign citizenship. The NCP has threatened to reconsider its participation in the election due to the ongoing dispute.

In Bangladesh, Gen Z voters, comprising 44% of the electorate, are poised to play a decisive role in the upcoming February 12, 2026, national election. This election follows widespread protests in July 2024, triggered by student demonstrations, which led to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 after nearly 15 years in power. Many young Bangladeshis, like 27-year-old Rafiul Alam, previously felt disenfranchised due to perceived election credibility issues under Hasina's government. However, the recent uprising has motivated many first-time voters to participate, viewing the election as a crucial opportunity to shape the country's future. The European Union has described the vote as the "biggest democratic process in 2026, anywhere".

In Bangladesh, student leaders who spearheaded the 2024 protests that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are facing political marginalization. Despite their key role in the uprising, the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) has been allocated only 30 of 253 parliamentary seats in a new electoral alliance for the February 12 election. The alliance is led by Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist party that will contest 179 seats. This arrangement raises concerns about the youth movement's future influence in governing the country. With nearly 40% of the electorate aged 18-37, the limited seat allocation suggests the student leaders may be sidelined despite the youth vote's potential impact.