Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen paid a courtesy visit on Monday to Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman at the party leader’s office in Dhaka, a meeting that comes at a politically sensitive moment just weeks ahead of Bangladesh’s general elections. The ambassador was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission Liu Yuyin, Political Director Zhangjing, and other senior Chinese officials. During the interaction, both sides discussed a wide range of issues concerning bilateral relations and areas of shared interest between China and Bangladesh.
Representatives from both delegations highlighted the long-standing diplomatic ties between the two countries and underscored their historical significance. Jamaat-e-Islami stated that the enduring friendship between China and Bangladesh has played an important role in promoting the welfare and development of people in both nations. The party emphasised that cooperation between the two countries has contributed positively across economic, social, and developmental sectors.
Expressing confidence about the future, Jamaat-e-Islami said it believes that relations between China and Bangladesh will continue to deepen and grow stronger in the coming years. The party noted that mutual respect, cooperation, and shared interests would further reinforce bilateral ties going forward.
The timing of the meeting has drawn attention, as it took place roughly a month before Bangladesh heads to the polls. Jamaat-e-Islami is contesting the upcoming general elections in alliance with the youth-based National Citizen Party, which emerged prominently after last year’s student-led uprising that led to the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government. The alliance has also gained momentum following a recent victory in student elections at Jagannath University, adding to its political visibility ahead of the national vote.
The meeting also builds on a series of recent engagements between Jamaat-e-Islami and China. Last year, a high-level delegation led by Shafiqur Rahman visited China at the invitation of the Chinese government, marking the party’s second official visit since 2024. The delegation was part of broader engagements commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh. Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Parwar described the visit as highly significant for both the party and the country, according to reports by Bangladeshi news outlet Jago News.
That visit followed a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka, which was attended by Ambassador Yao Wen and Shafiqur Rahman. Jamaat-e-Islami’s earlier delegation to China in September 2024 included 14 members, among them leaders from its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, as well as representatives from four other Islamic parties, reflecting a broader outreach effort.
Shortly after those engagements, Ambassador Yao Wen publicly remarked that China had been unable to maintain meaningful communication with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami during the previous decade under the Sheikh Hasina government. He said the situation had changed and that it was now time for China to re-establish contact and engagement with these political forces, signalling a shift in Beijing’s diplomatic outreach in Bangladesh.
