Jamaat-E-Islami Courts Army Veterans, China As Bangladesh Elections Near | Exclusive Details

Last Updated:January 13, 2026, 18:13 IST

Indian intelligence sources argue that Jamaat’s current charm offensive is a tactical 'Trojan Horse'

Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, with retired senior military officers. Image/News18

In a series of rapid-fire diplomatic and domestic manoeuvres, the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, held a prominent “view exchange" meeting with retired senior military officers in Dhaka on Monday, CNN-News18 has learnt. The gathering at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre followed a high-profile meeting with the Chinese Ambassador, Yao Wen, just twenty-four hours earlier. According to top government sources, this sequence of events marks a sophisticated “perception management" operation by Jamaat to project itself as a mainstream political force with deep institutional reach ahead of the February general elections.

Addressing the retired officers, Dr Shafiqur pivoted from traditional religious rhetoric to themes of national security and social responsibility. He praised the military for saving the nation from “certain civil war" during the 2024 uprising and called upon the veterans to help ensure a “fear-free" election. By urging former officers to assist in bringing voters to the booths and protecting the youth, the Jamaat chief is seen as attempting to bridge the historic rift between the Islamist party and the secular military establishment. Sources suggest this is a calculated signal that Jamaat is a “responsible" political actor capable of maintaining stability—a narrative aimed squarely at the military and the Western diplomatic corps.

The international dimension of this strategy is equally significant. Beijing, which traditionally prefers dealing with stable, institutional actors, appears to be hedging its bets by engaging directly with Jamaat. Ambassador Yao Wen’s visit to the Jamaat headquarters—the first by a senior diplomat in over a decade—highlights China’s recognition of the party’s massive street-mobilisation power. Intelligence sources note that Jamaat is keen to demonstrate to Beijing that it possesses “soft reach" within the Bangladeshi security and administrative apparatus, making it a reliable partner for Chinese investments in a post-Hasina landscape.

Indian intelligence sources argue that Jamaat’s current charm offensive is a tactical “Trojan Horse" strategy designed to legitimise its influence over state institutions while radicalising the youth under the guise of social work. As the election countdown enters its final thirty days, the “Jamat-China-Army" triangle has emerged as the most scrutinised and volatile element of the Bangladeshi political transition.

News world Jamaat-E-Islami Courts Army Veterans, China As Bangladesh Elections Near | Exclusive Details

Read More