Dhaka: Bangladesh’s political landscape is witnessing fresh controversy as Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach to local parties ahead of the February 12, 2026, general election sparks questions about external influence.
With 300 parliamentary seats at stake, the contest between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami has intensified. Jamaat has recently formed a broad coalition with eight other parties, including the student-driven National Citizen Party (NCP), elevating its visibility in a race closely watched across South Asia.
Critics argue that Pakistan’s recent high-level engagements — including meetings by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Pakistan’s High Commissioner Imran Haider with leaders of Jamaat and other alliance members — point to more than routine diplomacy. These interactions, some at the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, have fuelled speculation about Islamabad’s intent to boost Jamaat’s electoral prospects.
Jamaat-e-Islami remains controversial in Bangladesh due to its historical stance during the 1971 Liberation War and the conviction of several of its leaders for wartime crimes.
While supporters of the alliance frame Pakistan’s outreach as part of normal diplomatic engagement, opponents view it as an attempt to shape election outcomes in favour of parties perceived as aligned with Islamabad’s interests.
Political analysts say such perceptions, whether rooted in actual policy or political rhetoric, could influence voter sentiment and regional relations as Dhaka heads into one of its most unpredictable elections in recent memory.