The United States is reassessing its previous position on Jamaat-e-Islami, with a US diplomat in Dhaka stating that Washington wants to view the party as a 'friend' and increase direct communication. According to a recording obtained by The Washington Post, the diplomat made the remarks during a closed-door meeting with female journalists in Dhaka. The diplomat suggested that Bangladesh has become more 'Islam-oriented' and that Jamaat may perform better than ever in the upcoming national election scheduled for February 12.

The diplomat also said that even if Jamaat comes to power, it would not be able to impose Sharia law, and warned that the US would not hesitate to impose economic sanctions if any alarming steps were taken. US Embassy spokesperson Monica Shi later clarified that the meeting was a routine, off-the-record discussion. She emphasized that the United States does not support any specific political party and will work with whichever government is elected by the people.

The report indicates growing US diplomatic interest in Bangladesh’s evolving political landscape ahead of the national polls.