Jamaat-e-Islami’s olive branch to India runs contrary to its track record

Bangladesh's biggest radical outfit Jamaat-e-Islami may have sent an olive branch to India ahead of Thursday’s elections seeking to repair ties but its history of anti-Indian campaigns and actions since 1971 do not inspire any confidence.

Backed by Pakistan, Jamaat is unlikely to create a moderate and secular Bangladesh and ensure protection of minorities, according to Bangladesh experts. The Jamaat leaders over the past month have attempted to create an impression of improving ties with India if voted to power. However, this is a strategy to attract the traditional voters of Awami League in the absence of the party in the elections, according to Bangladesh watchers.

Jamaat leaders have been accused of misogyny and its Ameer's recent comments describing working women as prostitutes have created bigger controversy. Jamaat is also accused of orchestrating the movement that ousted Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Over the past one and half years, the outfit has spearheaded an anti-India campaign damaging bilateral ties.


Historically, Jamaat-e-Islami has acted against New Delhi’s security interests, encouraging extremist groups, radicals, and insurgents in Northeast India. During the entire 2001-06 period when Jamaat-e-Islami was in power in coalition with BNP, they worked in close coordination with Pakistan Army and ISI to encourage cross-border terror attacks into India’s heartland. The Jamaat-e-Islami was directly involved in ten truck case of 2004 that attempted to smuggle arms into Bangladesh for rebels in India’s Northeast and extremists on Bangladesh soil.

It may be recalled that Jamaat had joined hands with the Pakistan Army in 1971 to oppose creation of Bangladesh and was an active collaborator in the genocide that killed millions of people in Bangladesh till its liberation by India. Jamaat-e-Islami has always held India responsible for dividing Pakistan into two countries in 1971.

There are apprehensions that Jammat could create disturbance and sabotage elections and force Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP to form a coalition government. Sources claimed that Jamaat, which is an integral part of the interim regime, would find a way to enter the power structure. The pro-Pakistan faction of BNP is susceptible to influence by Jamaat to accommodate their demands.