Jamaat Breaks Free: A New Power Center in Bangladesh's 2026 Elections

• Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (BJI) emerges as a significant force, moving beyond BNP's shadow for the 2026 general election.
• BJI leads an 11-party alliance, including secular National Citizen Party (NCP), contesting 224 out of 300 parliamentary seats.
• The party adopts a 'Turkish-style' political Islam, focusing on welfare and economic modernization, contrasting with its traditional theological rhetoric.
• Despite a development-first agenda, BJI's social theology remains conservative, exemplified by fielding zero female candidates and prioritizing Islamic principles.
• The fragmented electoral landscape, with BNP and BJI-led alliance vying for power, could lead to a hung parliament, making coalition-building crucial, especially with India.