Political Politeness or Strategic Signals? Jamaat Chief Meets Khaleda Zia in London
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, recently met with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her residence in London. The meeting took place on Sunday, April 13, at the home of her son and BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman. Also present during the meeting were Dr. Syed Abdullah Abu Taher, Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer, and Tarique Rahman himself.
Following his return to Bangladesh, Dr. Rahman disclosed the meeting during an interview with a local media outlet. Speaking to the press, he said, “I met with Begum Zia. We have worked together for a long time. She is unwell, and it is our moral duty to inquire after her health. We met after a long time. We prayed for her recovery and sought her prayers as well.”
When asked whether any discussions took place with Tarique Rahman, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman responded, “When two people meet, many things are discussed. A lot was said.” However, he refrained from sharing any further details.
The meeting has since stirred conversations in political circles. On Tuesday night, Maruf Kamal Khan, a former press secretary to the BNP Chairperson, posted on his social media handle: “What was discussed during the meeting between Begum Zia and the two top leaders of Jamaat remains unknown. Whether this meeting between the two doctors (Shafiqur Rahman and Syed Abdullah Abu Taher) will spark new reactions in the chemistry of politics, or if it will remain a mere courtesy call, only time will tell.”
Maruf Kamal further noted, “Before Begum Zia left for advanced medical treatment in the UK, the Chief of Army Staff, General Waqar-uz-Zaman, also paid a visit to her residence along with his wife. Not much detail has emerged from that meeting either.”
His post sparked a flurry of speculation and discussion among netizens, with some viewing the meeting as a positive political gesture. Comments included sentiments like, “This is a good aspect of politics… there is no alternative to unity for rebuilding Bangladesh,” and “We respect mutually cordial relations.” Others remarked more critically, “Even if it's just a courtesy meeting, it's still a good practice. Such gestures foster harmony,” while one skeptical user commented, “Meetings in secret, cryptic words on Facebook.”
It is worth noting that Dr. Shafiqur Rahman had traveled to Brussels on April 4. He later went to London, accompanied by Jamaat's Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdullah Mohammad Taher. The Jamaat chief returned to Bangladesh on Monday.
