In Bangladesh’s Faridpur district, banker Abdur Razzak expresses newfound optimism for the Jamaat-e-Islami party ahead of the February 12 general election, following a student-led uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina’s government. An interim government has banned Hasina’s Awami League, creating a competitive landscape between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a Jamaat-led alliance. Recent polls indicate Jamaat is closing in on BNP, marking a significant shift after years of repression under Hasina’s rule. The upcoming election could signify a resurgence for Jamaat, which faced severe crackdowns during Hasina’s tenure, amidst ongoing tensions related to its historical actions during Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war.
