Select Language:
Shafiqur Rahman, who is 67 years old, has recently become a prominent figure in Bangladeshi politics. Previously marginalized, his image now appears on posters and billboards throughout Dhaka, campaigning for the first Jamaat-e-Islami-led government in upcoming national elections scheduled for Thursday. Rahman, a doctor and the leader of JI, has transitioned from relative obscurity to a serious contender for the country’s top political role. His coalition, led by JI, is expected to contest closely against the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in these elections. Voters will cast their ballots on February 12 for a national poll that marks the first since the 2024 student-led uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Surveys indicate that JI, which was banned for many years, is poised to deliver its strongest electoral performance to date.
Under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, authorities cracked down heavily on JI — imprisoning key leaders, sentencing some to death, banning the party, and forcing it underground. Rahman himself was detained in 2022 and held for 15 months. However, the 2024 uprising transformed JI and Rahman’s political fortunes. Shortly after Hasina fled to India in August 2024, an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus eased restrictions on the party, and a court in 2025 lifted the ban, allowing JI to re-emerge as a political force after years of operating discreetly. Rahman reflected on this shift, telling Reuters in December, “We tried to raise our voice, but it was suppressed. After the uprising, we finally had the opportunity to surface again.”
Born in 1958 in the northeastern district of Moulvibazar, Rahman began his political journey with a leftist student organization before joining Islami Chhatra Shibir, JI’s student wing. He officially entered JI in 1984 and ran unsuccessfully in the national elections of 1996, 2001, and 2018. He became the party leader in 2020. His wife, Amina Begum, served in parliament in 2018 and is also a physician, as are their two daughters and son. Rahman is the founder and chair of a family-owned hospital in Sylhet, in northeastern Bangladesh. JI describes him as a humble, sincere individual who leads a modest and approachable life rooted in simplicity.
Analysts believe Rahman capitalized on the political vacuum created after the uprising. “In the month following the uprising, Bangladesh lacked a visible leader. Tarique Rahman was in exile in London,” explained Dhaka University professor Shafi Md Mostafa. “Rahman traveled across the country, gained media attention, and within two years, became a frontrunner.” On the campaign trail, Rahman’s speeches have resonated with voters, promoting JI as a morally upright alternative guided by Islamic principles. Recently, the party allied with the Gen Z National Citizen Party, broadening its appeal among younger and less conservative voters. Some see Rahman as a more moderate face of JI, attempting to improve its image by emphasizing governance, anti-corruption efforts, and social justice, along with promising equal treatment for all religions. Rahman states that JI is “moderate, flexible, and reasonable,” yet affirms that its principles are grounded in Islamic and Quranic values—values he believes are for all of creation, not just Muslims.
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
