Jamaat and its Agenda of Islamic State in Bangladesh

The rise and growth of Islamist political parties in Bangladesh has been a cause of concern as these parties have the establishment of an Islamic state as their ultimate objective. Though some of these parties, especially the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, have tried to project themselves as ‘moderate forces’ and have participated in democratic elections, this article argues that the Jamaat is not a moderate force and has as its ultimate objective the establishment of an Islamic state, which does not go together with democracy. To unravel the nature of the Jamaat, this article discusses tactics used by them, their links with militant outfits, the role of two mainstream political parties, and their attempt to undermine democratic institutions. It also discusses international and domestic responses to the activities of the Jamaat and implications of this phenomenon for India.