In message to India, Jamaat chief says election will show ‘red card’ to forces of ‘hegemony’

In an indirect message to India, the leader of Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party has said the upcoming election will show ‘red card’ to the ‘pro-hegemony’ forces in Bangladesh.

Addressing an election rally in Dhaka on Sunday (February 8, 2026), Ameer of Jamaat-E-Islami Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said if elected to power, Jamaat will work for all sections of society and assured that student leader Nahid Islam will be an “important Minister” if the 11-party alliance that is led by Jamaat-e-Islami is elected to power.

“If elected to power, we will guard the rights of 18 crore citizens and the entire landmass of Bangladesh. The election will show ‘red card’ to “pro-hegemony’ forces,” said Mr. Rahman campaigning for Mr. Islam in the Dhaka-11 constituency. Mr. Rahman said the 11-party alliance will take everyone along if elected to power and that the pledge to rebuild Bangladesh is based on a firm agenda among the alliance members. He also accused the leading contender Bangladesh Nationalist Party as responsible for many challenges facing the country and accused the BNP of being non-serious about corruption.

Jamaat-e-Islami that has traditionally been regarded as antithetical to Bangladesh building relation with India has been guarded in its poll campaign meetings but the leaders have often indirectly hinted that they will be more assertive regarding Dhaka-Delhi ties.

Though JEI in its election manifesto has said if elected, it will work for “constructive relations with neighbouring countries” the student outfit of JEI and various student unions that are supported by JEI have been carrying out an “India out” campaign in the poll season.

“Peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations will be built with neighbouring and nearby countries— including India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Thailand— based on mutual respect and fairness,” the manifesto of JEI mentioned. In the public rallies, the party has avoided naming India but has often mentioned ‘India-based’ Sheikh Hasina accusing her of planning to disrupt the voting process. On Sunday (February 8, 2026), Mr. Islam too mentioned that there are plans to disrupt the election.

“There is a plan to devastate Bangladesh but we have to defeat that plan on February 12. Bangladesh will defeat the forces that support land grabbing, regional hegemony and terror,” said Mr. Islam while campaigning for Dhaka-11 seat. Over the weekend, a meeting was held in Shahid Minar where student leaders of Jagannath University Central Students Union (JUCSU) who are supported by JEI accused India of conspiring against Bangladesh’s interests.

The leaders called for investigation into the December 12, 2025 shooting of Islamist leader Sharif Osman Hadi and called for help from international organizations. “We do not trust national investigation. Without international investigation this case will not get a fair hearing,” said Nasiruddin Patwari, National Citizen Party leader.

It is noteworthy to mention that after the death of Hadi on December 18, 2025, the Islamist groups had threatened to encircle the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and pelted stones at Indian visa offices that froze visa operations between the two sides that are yet to normalise.