Senior officials from Afghanistan's Taliban government have undertaken a significant visit to Bangladesh, holding meetings with influential Islamist leaders in Dhaka. This development comes as Bangladesh prepares for crucial national elections scheduled for February, its first since the 2024 mass uprising that ousted the long-standing government of Sheikh Hasina.
Diplomatic Outreach and Political Meetings
According to Islamist officials in Dhaka who spoke on Monday, the visit included meetings with leaders seeking to bolster their political influence. The delegation was led by Noor Ahmad Noor, the Director General at the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul. His week-long trip had multiple facets, blending diplomatic outreach with religious and economic engagements.
Abu Sayem Khaled, president of the Bangladesh-Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce, confirmed to AFP that expanding bilateral trade ties was a key objective of the visit. Separately, Mamunul Haque, a leader of the Islamist party Khelafat-e-Majlish, revealed that Noor visited his madrassa, describing it as a "courtesy call." Haque noted that the Afghan official toured several other major Islamic seminaries in the country during his stay.
Government Response and Political Context
The interim government of Bangladesh, currently led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has remained silent on the visit. However, an unnamed foreign ministry official characterized Noor's trip as a "personal" visit. This diplomatic activity unfolds against a tense political backdrop.
Bangladesh, a South Asian nation of approximately 170 million people with a vast Sunni Muslim majority, is witnessing a resurgence of Islamist political forces. Jamaat-e-Islami, the country's largest and most organized Islamist party, which is ideologically aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood, is actively seeking a return to formal politics. The party faced severe bans and crackdowns during Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule.
Hasina's government, accused of widespread human rights abuses, adopted a hardline stance against Islamist movements, authorizing security operations against militants that resulted in numerous deaths and arrests.
Historical Links and Regional Implications
The visit also highlights historical connections between Afghan and Bangladeshi Islamist groups. The Taliban have had longstanding links with the banned militant organization Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh (HUJI-B), some of whose members fought against Soviet forces in Afghanistan decades ago.
In a related development, leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam, a powerful coalition of Islamic schools and Muslim organizations in Bangladesh, visited Afghanistan in September. Upon their return, they told Dhaka's Prothom Alo newspaper that they appreciated what they perceived as a "rule-based society" under Taliban governance.
Bangladesh is the world's fourth most populous Muslim-majority nation and hosts diverse Islamic traditions, including a significant Sufi community often criticized by hardline Islamists. The country also has a small Shia population, and roughly 10 percent of Bangladeshis are non-Muslims, primarily Hindus with smaller groups of Christians.
This visit by Taliban officials underscores the shifting political and religious dynamics in Bangladesh as it approaches a pivotal election, with regional actors keenly observing the evolving relationships between Dhaka and Kabul.
