Dr Shafiqur re-elected as Jamaat chief

Staff Reporter:

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has re-elected Shafiqur Rahman as its Ameer for another three-year term, extending his leadership of the country’s largest Islamist political organisation until 2028.
The announcement came late Saturday night from Maulana ATM Masum, Jamaat’s Chief Election Commissioner and Assistant Secretary General, following the completion of the party’s internal election process.

Jamaat confirmed the development in a press release issued on Sunday afternoon.

According to the statement, balloting for the Ameer election took place from October 9 to 25 through secret votes cast by Rukon—the party’s permanent members—across the country. After the conclusion of voting, the Election Commission conducted counting and verification before officially declaring the results.

The results show that Shafiqur Rahman secured the highest number of votes, earning a renewed mandate to lead the party from 2026 to 2028. This marks his third consecutive term, following his previous stints as Ameer during 2020–22 and 2023–25.

Rahman, a physician by training, has been at the helm of Jamaat through a challenging political period marked by efforts to regain political legitimacy, internal restructuring, and shifting alliances. Under his leadership, the party has sought to reposition itself in Bangladesh’s evolving political environment following the fall of the Awami League government in 2024.

Within Jamaat, his re-election is being viewed as a vote of confidence in continuity and steady leadership. However, analysts note that the coming term may prove decisive for Jamaat’s political trajectory—particularly as national debates on constitutional reforms and a possible referendum continue to shape the country’s political discourse.