New Delhi: Congress MP and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor has said that the sweeping victory of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (BJI), in Dhaka University student union elections could reshape the political landscape of Bangladesh ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Writing on social media, Tharoor argued that the win reflected growing voter frustration with the two main political parties, the Awami League of Sheikh Hasina and the Bangladesh National Party of Khaleda Zia. He stated that Jamaat’s student wing was viewed as free from the corruption and misrule associated with both parties. Tharoor warned that New Delhi might face a new political equation if Jamaat’s influence expands by the time of the February 2026 polls.
In the Dhaka University elections, Islami Chhatra Shibir secured nine of twelve posts, a result celebrated by its supporters. Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan and advisers close to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who currently heads Bangladesh’s interim government, sent congratulatory messages.
Meanwhile, the BNP’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, claimed irregularities in the process and boycotted polls at Jahangirnagar University. Security forces were stationed on campuses to prevent unrest.
Analysts note that student politics has historically influenced national politics in Bangladesh. With youth voters turning towards Jamaat, the outcome signals a possible realignment in the country’s political balance. While Tharoor expressed concern, Jamaat supporters view the victory as a democratic shift driven by young voters seeking alternatives.
