Islamist Party’s Rise Overshadows Student Revolution in Bangladesh

In the wake of Bangladesh’s 2026 general elections on February 12, the surging popularity of Jamaat-e-Islami has eclipsed the revolutionary ideals of the student-led uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s regime in 2024.[1][2][3] Despite the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) securing a landslide victory with 209 seats, Jamaat’s record haul of 68 seats—its highest ever—signals a dramatic resurgence for the Islamist party, sidelining the National Citizen Party (NCP) born from the July Revolution.[3][4]

The elections marked Bangladesh’s first genuinely competitive polls in over a decade, held under an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus since August 2024.[2][3] Voter turnout reached just over 59%, reflecting cautious optimism amid months of unrest.[4] BNP’s triumph, alongside allies grabbing three more seats, gave it a two-thirds majority in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad, positioning Tarique Rahman for leadership.[3][4] A simultaneous constitutional referendum endorsed the July Charter, introducing prime ministerial term limits, an upper house, expanded presidential powers, and judicial reforms.[3][4]

Yet, the real story lies in Jamaat-e-Islami’s improbable comeback. Banned and repressed for over a decade under Hasina’s Awami League (AL), the conservative religious party reemerged as a close second in pre-election polls.[1][2] Leading an 11-party alliance that included the NCP and other Islamist groups like Hefazat-e-Islam, Jamaat campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, promising to combat extortion, economic pillage, and irregularities while establishing social justice for all, regardless of religion or caste.[1][2] Its leader, Shafiqur Rahman, drew massive crowds in Dhaka’s narrow streets, where supporters celebrated the end of public suppression.[1]

Jamaat’s gains were strongest in constituencies near the western Indian border, fueled by anti-India sentiment.[3] Rural voters in mustard fields, weary of BNP and AL dominance, voiced readiness for change: “We have already seen the BNP and Awami League. Now we want to see what Jamaat can do.”[1] Urban support also swelled, with some dismissing fears of conservatism. One voter noted, “They are not that much conservative and they’re very open about the rights of women.”[1] Critics, including protests outside BNP headquarters, questioned implications for women, but Jamaat positioned itself as pragmatic, prioritizing governance over religious imposition.[1]

This ascent starkly overshadows the student revolutionaries who sparked the July Revolution. The Students Against Discrimination and NCP, led by figures like Nahid Islam and Mahfuj Alam, drove Hasina’s ouster through mass protests against her authoritarian rule and the July massacre.[3] They demanded AL’s permanent ban, staging protests in April 2025 outside Yunus’s residence.[3] Yet, in the polls, NCP’s influence waned within Jamaat’s alliance, reduced to a junior partner as Islamist momentum dominated.[2][3] Nahid Islam opposed AL’s participation unless its leaders faced trial, echoing broader calls against “foreign interference,” but the Appellate Division rejected ban petitions.[3]

BNP’s victory stemmed from AL’s absence—banned post-uprising—and its perceived experience, tempering fears of right-wing ascent.[3] Hasina, exiled in India, decried the vote as unconstitutional.[4] Pre-election violence surged, with partisan clashes, vigilantism, and deeper societal tensions, though BNP remained the front-runner.[2] Jamaat, once allied with BNP, now vows “constructive opposition” and “positive politics.”[4]

The student revolution promised secular, youth-driven reform, but Jamaat’s rise exposes fractures. Polls showed a bipolar contest between BNP and the Jamaat-NCP alliance, yet BNP voters cited concerns over Islamist growth.[2][3] In Khulna and Barishal divisions, Jamaat candidates like Muhaddis Abdul Khalek and Mahmudunnabi Talukder challenged BNP wins, underscoring regional strongholds.[3] Dhaka streets post-election buzzed with optimism for stability, but underlying worries persist: Will Jamaat’s 77 seats (including allies) push conservative policies? Can it deliver on anti-corruption without alienating moderates?[1][3][4]

This shift raises profound questions for Bangladesh’s democracy. The July Revolution dismantled AL’s monopoly, but power now pivots to established parties like BNP and a revitalized Jamaat, marginalizing the revolutionaries who bled for change.[2][3] Students envisioned a secular future free from dynastic rule; instead, anti-corruption rhetoric unites voters across divides, propelling Islamists forward.[1] BNP must now govern a polarized nation, tackling economic woes, judicial reforms, and violence.[5] Jamaat’s opposition role could stabilize or inflame tensions.

As Bangladesh enters this pivotal chapter, the student spark dims under Islamist shadows. The July Charter offers structural hope, but true reform hinges on whether BNP harnesses its mandate and Jamaat tempers ideology with pragmatism.[3][4] For the revolutionaries, the election underscores a harsh reality: revolutions ignite change, but elections crown survivors. With over 175 million people watching, stability demands bridging revolutionary zeal and electoral pragmatism—lest new shadows eclipse the dawn they fought for.

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Original source: The New York Times – Islamist Party’s Rise Overshadows Student Revolution in Bangladesh