For years, the Awami League had sought to marginalise Jamaat-e-Islami on the global stage, portraying the party in a negative light to foreign allies.
However, following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina in a mass student-led uprising on 5 August last year, Jamaat has found renewed vigour, making significant strides in diplomatic engagement.
Over the past seven months, senior Jamaat leaders, including its Ameer, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, have conducted meetings with ambassadors, high commissioners, and diplomats from at least 15 nations, aiming to strengthen international relations and reposition themselves as a political force.
Jamaat’s diplomatic outreach has not gone unnoticed.
Representatives from influential countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, South Korea, Pakistan, and Iran, have not only engaged in discussions with Jamaat’s leadership but have also visited its central office.
A significant diplomatic milestone was reached on 8 March, when Jamaat hosted an iftar gathering attended by nearly all foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka.
Most recently, on 15 March, Jamaat’s top brass met with the visiting Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres.
Dr Shafiqur Rahman and Secretary-General Mia Golam Parwar have actively pursued these diplomatic channels, travelling to five key nations, including the UK, Malaysia, Kuwait, Japan, and Turkey.
Jamaat’s diplomatic wing has framed these initiatives as part of a broader strategy to present the party in a fresh light, moving beyond its historical political isolation.
Speaking on the matter, Jamaat’s secretary-general stated, “During the fascist Awami regime, we were systematically repressed. Diplomats were barred from visiting our offices, which were forcibly closed, and our leadership faced constant threats. In the changed political scenario, we are now reaching out to diplomats worldwide to introduce our vision for a prosperous and welfare-oriented Bangladesh.”
Jamaat’s renewed diplomatic activism has already yielded a series of high-profile meetings.
Following the 5 August uprising, the first foreign diplomat to visit Jamaat’s central office was the Chinese ambassador, Yao Wen, on 2 September 2024.
Subsequent visits included the South Korean ambassador Park Young-sik on 8 October, Australian Acting High Commissioner Nardia Simpson on 14 October, Palestinian Ambassador Yusuf Saleh Wai Ramadan on 16 October, Turkish Ambassador Ramis Sen on 26 November, and Iranian Ambassador Mansour Chavoshi on 10 December.
These meetings were followed by further engagements with Brazilian, Saudi, Pakistani, British, American, and Russian diplomats between January and March 2025.
Jamaat’s leadership has also expanded its international presence through overseas visits.
The party’s Ameer, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, has undertaken diplomatic missions to the UK, Malaysia, and Kuwait, while the Secretary-General has travelled to Japan and Turkey.
Additionally, a delegation of senior Jamaat figures recently concluded a visit to China.
A senior official from Jamaat’s diplomatic wing noted that under the Awami League’s tenure, foreign governments were largely presented with a one-sided narrative, branding Jamaat as a regressive entity.
“For 16 years, our activities were systematically suppressed. Even political engagements were perilous, let alone diplomatic interactions. The Awami League regime worked to ensure that Jamaat was perceived negatively by foreign governments. Now, with the fall of the Hasina administration, we are finally in a position to establish direct diplomatic ties and offer an alternative narrative,” he remarked.
Jamaat-e-Islami has made concerted efforts to highlight its vision for Bangladesh’s future to the international community.
During the 8 March iftar gathering in Gulshan, Jamaat’s Ameer briefed foreign diplomats on what he described as the systemic repression the party endured under the Awami League government.
The event saw attendance from a wide range of ambassadors and high commissioners, including those from the UK, China, Russia, France, Australia, the European Union, Iran, Turkey, the United States, Pakistan, and South Korea, among others.
Representatives from Morocco, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, India, Bhutan, Singapore, Brunei, Denmark, Malaysia, Iraq, Vatican City, Canada, Algeria, Kosovo, and international bodies such as the UN Human Rights Office and UNDP were also present.
Jamaat’s Deputy Ameer, Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, underscored the significance of these diplomatic endeavours.
“For years, the Awami League’s authoritarian rule not only suppressed our political activities but also obstructed our ability to engage internationally. With the new political reality, we have prioritised diplomatic engagements alongside our political and social initiatives. Our discussions with diplomats focus on fostering mutual cooperation, strengthening bilateral relations, and ensuring development partnerships,” he asserted.
As Bangladesh undergoes a political transformation, Jamaat-e-Islami’s proactive diplomatic engagement signals a clear intent to reclaim political legitimacy and secure international recognition.
With a growing roster of diplomatic allies and an assertive foreign relations strategy, the party appears poised to play an increasingly significant role in shaping the country’s evolving political landscape.
