With India closely tracking developments ahead of Bangladesh’s February 12 elections, Jamaat-e-Islami on Wednesday released a 41-point election manifesto, promising greater representation for women in government and sweeping reforms in the justice system and economy.

Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman announced the manifesto, which commits to appointing a “significant number of women” to the cabinet if the party comes to power, despite not fielding any female candidates in the election.

“The cabinet will reflect the diversity of the nation by ensuring representation of religious and ethnic communities and other historically under-represented sections of society,” the manifesto said.

The party, seen as a major rival to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the upcoming polls, also pledged to ensure a safe and dignified working environment for women. It proposed reducing working hours for women during maternity to five hours a day, subject to the mother’s consent.

The announcement comes days after a screenshot of a post related to women circulated from Rahman’s verified X account. The post was later deleted, with the party claiming the account had been hacked.

Economic targets for 2040

On the economic front, Jamaat said it aims to transform Bangladesh into a USD 2 trillion economy by 2040 and raise per capita income to USD 10,000.

As of early 2026, Bangladesh’s economy is estimated at around USD 475 billion in nominal terms, while its purchasing power parity (PPP) value stands at approximately USD 1.78 trillion. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, per capita income in 2026 is about USD 2,820.

Shifting political landscape

The political landscape in Bangladesh has shifted after the violent uprising that toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League.

The BNP, now led by Tarique Rahman following the death of former prime minister Khaleda Zia in December, has emerged as the frontrunner. With the Awami League disbanded by the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus, Jamaat-e-Islami has positioned itself as BNP’s main rival.

The BNP is yet to release its election manifesto for the polls, which are expected to end the unscheduled tenure of the Yunus-led interim government.

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