Bangladesh Polls: Jamaat's Rise a Wake-Up Call for India and Secularists

• Jamaat-i-Islami secured 66 seats in recent Bangladesh elections, indicating a significant ideological shift in society.
• Despite a relatively low seat count, Jamaat's performance is seen as a "red alert" for secularists and India due to its growing acceptance.
• The Islamist organization, formed in 1941, supported Pakistan in the 1971 war and was involved in war crimes.
• Jamaat allegedly played a critical role in protests against Sheikh Hasina and mobilised lynchings of minority Hindus.
• Concerns exist that Jamaat's mainstreaming could facilitate radical groups and Pakistan-backed terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.