A clandestine meeting between senior leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami in London has sparked speculation about a renewed political alignment in Bangladesh, amid an increasingly restive political climate and diverging views on election timing.
According to sources within India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the high-level dialogue took place last Sunday at the London residence of Begum Khaleda Zia, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and current Chairperson of BNP.
The meeting was reportedly attended by Khaleda’s son and acting BNP chief Tarique Rahman, along with Jamaat’s top leaders Shafiqur Rahman and Syed Abdullah Abu Taher.
“The timing of the meeting is said to be critical. BNP is pressing for parliamentary elections in December 2025 and party leaders are scheduled to meet chief advisor Mohammad Yunus on Wednesday to formally present this demand. On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed its preference for the June 2026 timeline proposed by the caretaker government, emphasising the need for electoral reforms before any vote takes place,” an MEA official said.
Although the agenda of the meeting has not been officially disclosed, political circles in Dhaka are abuzz with speculation about its implications. Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh after a fortnight-long trip, refrained from denying election-related discussions.
“A lot can happen when a few politicians sit down for a conversation,” he remarked cryptically.
Despite their shared opposition to the ruling Awami League, BNP and Jamaat remain ideologically distant. BNP has been openly critical of the interim government’s neutrality, while Jamaat has focused its criticism on issues such as spiralling inflation and deteriorating law and order.
Tensions between grassroots supporters of the two camps have often erupted into violent confrontations, with analysts describing their relationship as akin to “a snake beneath the grass.”
Nevertheless, the London meeting is being viewed by many as a possible precursor to a renewed understanding. The two parties had previously shared power between 2001 and 2006, and some insiders suggest that Jamaat may now be willing, at least in principle, to align with BNP’s call for elections in December.
Adding another layer of intrigue, MEA sources indicated that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) could be playing a role in orchestrating the rapprochement.
“The secrecy surrounding the meeting has fuelled speculation about external influence, particularly from Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, which is believed to be actively working to restore ties between BNP and Jamaat. Reports suggest that ISI is also attempting to include the Jatiya Nagorik Party, a student-based political group, into this evolving political alignment,” the MEA official claimed.
Further fanning the flames of speculation, Maruf Kamal Khan, former press secretary to Khaleda Zia, took to Facebook, stating, “It is not known what issues were discussed in the meeting between Begum Zia and the two top Jamaat leaders—Shafiqur Rahman and Syed Abdullah Abu Taher. We will have to watch the future closely to see whether this meeting creates new reactions in the chemistry of politics or turns out to be a mere courtesy meeting.”
He also disclosed that Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman and his wife had visited Khaleda Zia prior to her travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment. However, the details of that meeting remain undisclosed.
As Bangladesh stands at a political crossroads, with its opposition still fragmented and the next elections looming, the London meeting—cloaked in secrecy and diplomacy—has emerged as a potential turning point. Whether this marks a strategic shift or merely a fleeting gesture remains to be seen in the turbulent weeks ahead.
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