Two years after the sudden collapse of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government, Bangladesh is navigating a transformed political and religious landscape. The ouster of Hasina on August 5, 2024, ended a 15-year tenure during which her administration was widely seen as a firm bulwark against religious extremism. Hasina had enforced a severe crackdown on the country’s largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, as well as various radical and jihadist organizations. Really, Hasina cracked down on everyone – but to some, her authoritarian bent was an acceptable price to pay to keep religious extremism under wraps.
The sudden fall of her government in 2024 sparked widespread concern, particularly in neighboring India. New Delhi feared that the political vacuum would allow Islamist extremist groups to operate freely, potentially turning Bangladesh into a safe haven for groups that might plan cross-border terror attacks on Indian soil. Today, those anxieties are being tested as Jamaat-e-Islami stages a significant comeback in the country's parliamentary politics.
Indications of this political resurgence were visible on February 2, 2026, when Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman addressed a major election rally in the Chattogram district. Alongside the party's return to mainstream politics, radical factions have begun mobilizing, and there has been a rise in attacks targeting religious minorities. However, analysts suggest that while the political dynamics have shifted, initial fears of an uncontrolled Islamist takeover in Bangladesh have not entirely come to pass.
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Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.