US wants to see Jamaat as a 'friend' in Bangladesh: New discussion over diplomatic audio

The US is interested in developing friendly relations with Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami, according to a report by the US media outlet Washington Post. The media outlet reported that an audio obtained by the country shows a US diplomat working in Dhaka making such comments while talking to several female journalists. The report, published on Thursday (January 22), said that the audio was from a meeting last December.

In the audio, the US diplomat said that Bangladesh is currently leaning towards Islamism and that Jamaat-e-Islami could get the highest number of seats in its history in the upcoming national elections. In such a political reality, the US wants to see Jamaat-e-Islami as a potential 'friend'. It is worth noting that the party has been banned several times in the past - most recently during Sheikh Hasina's regime.

In that discussion, the diplomat told journalists, "We want them to be our friends." At the same time, he expressed interest in bringing the leaders of the student camp to television talk shows and asked whether the leaders of the camp would participate in these programs or not.

Regarding Sharia law, he clearly said that even if Jamaat-e-Islami comes to power, it will not implement Sharia law in Bangladesh. In his words, if Sharia law is implemented, the United States may impose a 100 percent tariff on the Bangladeshi garment industry the next day. He mentioned that about 20 percent of Bangladesh's exports to the United States depend on the garment industry. As a result, if orders in this sector are stopped, the country's economy will be in serious crisis.

The diplomat also said that the United States can establish contact not only with Jamaat but also with Hefazat-e-Islam and the Islamic Movement of Bangladesh. According to him, if the United States maintains contact with these political and religious forces, it will be able to directly call them and express its position if necessary, especially if there are any concerns about Sharia law.

Rejecting the possibility of Sharia law being implemented in Bangladesh, he said that the country has a large number of highly educated and university-educated people. That is why Jamaat will not take such a decision. He said the US would make its position clear on the matter.

Monica Shee, a spokesperson for the US embassy in Dhaka, told the Washington Post that the discussion took place as part of a regular meeting in December, where US embassy officials exchange views with Bangladeshi journalists. She also noted that these discussions are not usually for publication. At the same time, she said that this will not have any impact on India-US relations.

On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami spokesperson Mohammad Rahman said that they do not usually comment on personal diplomatic meetings. However, he said that since the fall of Sheikh Hasina in 2024, there have been four meetings between Jamaat and US representatives in Washington. There have also been several meetings in Dhaka and recently, Jamaat held a virtual meeting with US Trade Representative Jamison Greer.

Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow for South Asia at the Atlantic Council, said that US-India relations are already complex. In the meantime, if the US increases its closeness to Jamaat-e-Islami, it could create further tension between the two countries. According to him, Jamaat has long been India's biggest concern, which India sees as a close ally of Pakistan and a threat to regional security.

The report also mentions that the US diplomat also commented on the verdict against Sheikh Hasina at the International Criminal Court. He said that politically it was a "genius decision", although the court was not 100% transparent or impartial. According to him, Sheikh Hasina committed a serious crime by ordering the use of lethal weapons during the mass movement, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,400 people.

Source: Washington Post