Diplomats pivot to Jamaat: Inside the sudden global courtship

In a striking shift on Bangladesh’s political stage, Jamaat-e-Islami – long sidelined for controversy, suppressed and branded a pariah under the previous Awami League government – is now at the centre of intense international attention. Since the dramatic political realignment of August 5, 2024, when the Awami League government fell, diplomats from across the globe have been quietly but steadily knocking on Jamaat’s door. The numbers speak volumes: between September 4 and 30 alone, envoys from 19 countries and three international organisations held formal meetings with Jamaat leaders. Over the past year, that figure has swelled to at least 35 nations including heavyweights like the United States, United Kingdom, China, Russia, France, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and...