‘Constructive’ ties with India, no mention of Pakistan-inside Bangladesh Jamaat’s poll manifesto

Bangladesh’s largest Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami has released its election manifesto ahead of the 12 February national polls, pledging greater inclusion of women in governance, ambitious economic targets, and an expanded foreign policy agenda with no specific mention of Pakistan.
Jamaat president Shafiqur Rahman unveiled the ‘People’s Manifesto’ with the slogan ‘A Safe and Humane Bangladesh’ before an audience that included diplomats, political leaders, journalists, business figures and members of civil society in Dhaka.
The 88-page manifesto outlines 26 priority areas, described by party leaders as part of a broader 41-point plan that Jamaat says will guide governance over the next five years if it comes to power.
Among its core themes are women’s participation in public life, reforms in the justice and economic sectors, and a recalibration of Bangladesh’s foreign relations.
On women’s empowerment, Jamaat pledged to include a “significant number of women” in the Cabinet, even though it has not fielded any female candidate yet. It also says that women will be appointed to key positions within the Cabinet, adding that “special initiatives will be undertaken to increase women’s participation and leadership within the local government system.”
The manifesto also promises representation for religious and ethnic minorities and other historically underrepresented groups.
“The Cabinet will reflect the diversity of the nation by ensuring representation of religious and ethnic communities and other historically underrepresented sections of society,” it reads.
The manifesto focuses on the need for a safe and dignified working environment for women. While Rahman previously floated the idea of a five-hour workday for women with the government to compensate wages for the remaining hours, the proposal does not appear in the final document. Instead, it states that working hours during maternity may be reduced to five per day, subject to the mother’s consent.
The renewed focus on women seems to follow after the recent controversy surrounding a post about women that briefly appeared on Rahman’s X account before being deleted. The Jamaat later claimed the account had been hacked.