Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (JIB) has announced a major strategic shift ahead of the country’s upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, expected in February. Contrary to earlier expectations of forming an Islamist coalition, Jamaat will not enter any formal electoral alliance. Instead, it plans to reach seat-by-seat understandings with ideologically aligned Islamic parties and independent political figures to avoid contesting against each other in the same constituencies. Party chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman confirmed the approach during a meeting in Sylhet, saying the organization would advance based on local negotiations rather than a structured coalition. Party sources indicate that unresolved differences over the implementation of Sharia-based laws prevented consensus on a unified platform. Some partner parties favored immediate enforcement, while Jamaat proposed a gradual approach. Analysts suggest this method also helps project an image of a participatory election in the likely absence of the ruling Awami League. Additionally, under the revised Representation of the People Order (RPO), allied parties can no longer share a single electoral symbol, further discouraging formal alliances. The move reflects Jamaat’s pragmatic turn toward flexible coordination instead of rigid bloc politics — aiming to expand influence, maintain ideological coherence, and adapt to Bangladesh’s changing electoral landscape.