The United States has expressed interest in establishing friendly relations with Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami, according to a report in the American media outlet Washington Post .
The report said that a US diplomat based in Dhaka told female journalists that the influence of Islamist parties in Bangladesh’s political reality is growing and that Jamaat is likely to win a significant number of seats in the upcoming national elections. In this context, the US wants to maintain relations with Jamaat.
The diplomat said that even if Jamaat comes to power, it will not implement Sharia law. However, he also warned that the United States will take strict trade measures in Bangladesh’s garment sector if Sharia law is introduced. At the same time, the possibility of communication with Hefazat-e-Islam and Islami Andolan Bangladesh was also mentioned.
A spokesperson for the US embassy in Dhaka said that these were regular and informal discussions, which were not intended to be published. On the other hand, a Jamaat spokesperson said that there were multiple meetings with the US after the political changes in 2024.
According to analysts, the increased US ties with Jamaat could create a new level of tension in India-US relations. Source: Washington Post