Jamaat feat in 13th national polls historic too: Analysts

In a landmark shift for Bangladesh's political landscape, Jamaat-e-Islami has secured its highest-ever seat count in the 13th national election. While the party has long been a factor in coalition politics, the latest results show the emergence of a challenging, independent vote bank that could redefine the country's power dynamics.

According to the Election Commission data, the party alone secured 68 seats, while its alliance bagged a total of 77 seats and their candidates lost by low margins in more than 50 other constituencies, indicating a broad-based surge across the country.

A new political reality

Analysts view it as a "breakthrough" performance. However, some consider a difference between the "mass wave" predicted by party supporters following their dominance in university student union polls after 5 August and the final results.

Dilara Choudhury, professor of Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University, believes the rise of religious politics in Bangladesh is a counter-response to regional dominance and religious violence in neighbouring countries.

"This rise isn't purely about 'Islamisation.' While many parties in the Jamaat-led alliance hold hardline views, moderate politics remains the core strength of this region," she noted.

Breaking new ground

The much-hyped election saw a wave of fresh faces, with at least 60 first-time MPs, including the party's Ameer Shafiqur Rahman. Historically, Jamaat struggled to gain a foothold in the capital. 

This time, they flipped the script, winning six out of 20 seats in Dhaka. They also secured seats for the first time in Gazipur, Faridpur, Madaripur, and Narayanganj – districts previously considered difficult terrain for the party.

While the rise is significant, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attributed the phenomenon to the previous regime. 

Speaking to reporters in Thakurgaon yesterday, he claimed, "The Awami League is responsible for Jamaat's rise. Their years of oppression on the opposition created the vacuum that allowed Jamaat to strengthen its position."

Regional strongholds, surprises

The party's most dominant performance came in the Khulna division as it secured 25 out of 36 seats. Despite the overall success in the region, Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar suffered a surprise debacle in his constituency.

In Rangpur, a traditional stronghold of Jatiyo Party, Jamaat made massive improvements, winning all six seats in the district and 16 out of 30 across the division. 

Similar gains were seen in the Rajshahi division, a BNP stronghold, where Jamaat swept all three seats in Chapainawabganj and gained ground in Naogaon and Sirajganj.

However, the party's performance remained disappointing in Chattogram, Sylhet, and Mymensingh divisions, though they managed to bag a significant percentage of the vote in those areas.

Allegations of foul play

Despite the record-breaking success, Jamaat's Central Publicity Secretary Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair claimed the party was deprived of an even larger victory. "We were on the verge of a landslide, but tactics like booth capturing and rigging in several seats were used to marginalise us during the final count."

Jamaat's path to 68 seats

Jamaat's journey in Bangladesh elections has been a rollercoaster of bans and alliances. In 1979, the party secured six seats under the 'Islamic Democratic League'. Later, in 1991, Jamaat won 18 seats independently and supported BNP in government formation.

In 2001, the party won 17 seats as part of the four-party alliance with BNP, and it secured two seats in the 2008 election. In 2014 & 2018, the party had been barred from contesting the elections following a court order in 2013. In 2025, the party's registration was restored, and they returned to win a record 68 seats in 2026.

Why the surge?

Political analyst Mahbubul Alam identifies three core reasons for this ascent-after 2010 the party rebuilt its structure from the grassroots up and fostered a highly disciplined cadre, a digital-first campaign and an active student wing successfully courted first-time voters, and years of operating charitable networks in rural and semi-urban areas built a foundation of loyalty that translated into votes.

Asif Mohammad Shahan, political analyst and a Dhaka University teacher, believes that the rise in Jamaat's vote share is largely linked to the political failure of BNP.

He said that if the 1991 and 1996 elections are taken as a baseline, Jamaat's core vote stood at around 12 percent. "This time, it may well exceed 30 percent."

"If the BNP fails to govern effectively, Jamaat is likely to emerge even stronger in the coming years, with an expanded voter base," he said. 

Despite the electoral success, analysts warn that Jamaat still faces significant hurdles. Their controversial role in 1971 remains a sensitive issue, and the party must now balance its hardline roots with the need for international acceptance and stability within a broader democratic coalition.