News 18 website reported on October 2 that the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party is redesigning its emblem to reshape its political image. It is known that the party has long faced accusations of "political radicalism and violent extremism." In 2013, it was banned by the highest court of Bangladesh from participating in elections, and in 2024, it was officially dissolved by the Hasina government. The original emblem of the party contained Arabic words "Aakimuddin (Establishing Islam)" and "Allah," with a strong Islamic character; the new design includes elements such as the sunrise, pen, scales, and books, emphasizing "knowledge, justice, and modernity." Analysts point out that this move aims to shed the historical label of being a "hardliner" and to gain recognition from the "Z-generation" in Bangladesh and a broader public opinion. Notably, this modification plan was proposed by the party chairman, Shafiqur Rahman, during a meeting with the Spanish ambassador to Bangladesh, Gabriel Sistiaga Ochoa de Chinchetru, which has raised concerns among outsiders about foreign interference in Bangladesh's internal affairs and covert efforts to push the party back into the political arena. The final plan has not been finalized yet. According to reports, the party's student organization achieved a decisive victory in the September election for the central student council (DUCSU) at Dhaka University, marking the first time since Bangladesh's independence in 1971 that an Islamicist student group has won. Analysts believe that India needs to be vigilant about the potential spillover effects of the party's "political revival." Former Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor, stated that Bangladesh will hold national elections in February 2026, and India "cannot stand idly by."
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1845061994744267/
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