Why Jamaat failed: How Tarique Rahman’s BNP crushed the Islamist surge in 2026 | World News

Bangladesh Jamaat Islami (JeI) faced a major defeat in the crucial 2026 general elections, the first since the 2024 “Generation Z uprising”. Initial predictions were that it could become the country’s new leading party, but a landslide victory by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Tarique Rahman sidelined Jamaat.

On Friday, February 13, while the US and other world powers congratulated Rahman, a stubborn Jamaat expressed serious concerns about the accuracy of the results.

Collapsed early surge

After Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, Jamaat was the best organized force on the streets. With the Awami League banned and the BNP’s Tarique Rahman initially in exile, the Jamaat faced little competition.

However, as the February 12 elections approached, the party’s momentum stalled. Data from the February 12-13 count shows that although the Jamaat increased its seat count significantly compared to historical lows, gaining around 63-70 seats, it was unable to close the gap with the BNP’s considerable figure of 197 seats.

Voter rejection: The generation gap and the minority shield

Jamaat’s attempt to rebrand itself as a moderate, “pro-insurgency” party did not win the support of key groups:

youth vote: The young Bangladeshis who led the July uprising largely supported the BNP and viewed the Jamaat’s hard-line roots with suspicion.

minority factor: In Khulna-1, despite fielding its first Hindu candidate, Krishna Nandi, the Jamaat lost the seat to the BNP. Minority voters, including Hindus, Buddhists and Christians, supported the BNP, mostly for security reasons.

‘Refined’ vote: Former Awami League supporters who voted did not shift to the Islamist right; They switched to the centre-right BNP.

‘US hand’ claims

The campaign faced turmoil due to reports in The Washington Post alleging “silent communication” between US diplomats and the Jamaat. The alleged audio leaks suggested that Western officials were downplaying Jamaat’s sharia-based agenda to create a more “pluralistic” post-Hasina landscape.

BNP benefited from these reports. General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir publicly warned that any “secret agreement” between Jamaat and foreign powers threatened national sovereignty. This “foreign intervention” narrative effectively attracted nationalist voters to the BNP.

Historical baggage: Rebranding versus reality

Founded by Syed Abul Ala Maududi, the Jamaat has been struggling for decades over its role in the 1971 War of Independence. Although it supports current leader Shafikur Rahman’s vision of a “Bangladesh without discrimination” and vows to protect women’s rights, the party has not been able to escape its past.

Violence in the student wing: Reports of clashes involving the Islamic Chhatra Shibir and allegations of voter intimidation in Bogura and Saidpur undermined the party’s “moderate” messages.

‘Saidpur’ cash scandal: Hours before the vote, the arrest of a Jamaat leader, who was in possession of Taka 74 lakh, sparked allegations of “vote buying” by the BNP and damaged the Jamaat’s image as a “reformist” force.

New order: Tarique Rahman’s landslide

Tarique Rahman is expected to be sworn in as Prime Minister once BNP crosses the 151-seat majority threshold. In his first victory speech, Rahman showed a focus on stability by requesting “special prayers” instead of victory rallies.

For the Jamaat, the 2026 results confirm its role as the main opposition, but also highlight its failure to persuade the majority of Bangladeshis to support its Islamist vision for governance, despite a significant organizational effort.

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