Shafiqur PM, Azad home minister in Jamaat's shadow cabinet

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the main opposition party in the National Parliament, has formed a "shadow cabinet" – largely in secrecy – with party chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman as prime minister.

Until now, the shadow cabinet's activities had been kept mostly hidden, but Jamaat has decided to formally announce its members soon. The matter was disclosed by the party's Ameer, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, during a meeting with newspaper editors yesterday (Monday) at the opposition leader's official residence on Minto Road in the capital.

He said that they have already formed a shadow cabinet and that its members are undergoing training. The names of the shadow cabinet members will be formally announced shortly.

Jamaat's Assistant Secretary General and head of the central publicity and media division, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer, said the shadow cabinet was formed last month following a decision by the executive committee. It will be revealed at the appropriate time.

When asked who is in this cabinet, he said the shadow cabinet has been formed with the party's top leaders. Many senior party leaders who are not members of parliament are also associated with this structure. The main purpose is to hold the government accountable.

However, party sources have revealed the following assignments:

Ministry of Local Government: Party Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Deputy Leader of the Opposition Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher.

Ministry of Home Affairs: Assistant Secretary General and former MP Dr. A. H. M. Hamidur Rahman Azad.

Ministry of Finance: MP for Dhaka-12 constituency Saiful Alam Khan Milon.

Ministry of Social Welfare: Jamaat's Naib-e-Ameer and MP for Rajshahi-1 constituency Mujibur Rahman.

Ministry of Information: Assistant Secretary General and head of the publicity division Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer.

Ministry of Power and Energy: MP for Pabna-1 constituency Barrister Nazibur Rahman Momen.

Ministry of Law: The party's top lawyer Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir.

Additionally, sources indicate that:

Ministry of Education: MP for Faridpur-1 constituency Dr. Elias Mollah.

Ministry of Religious Affairs: MP for Sherpur-1 constituency Hafez Rashedul Islam.

Ministry of Youth and Sports: MP for Gazipur-4 constituency and former president of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, Salahuddin Ayubi.

Jamaat Says Shadow Cabinet Aims to Monitor Every Ministry, Propose Alternative Policies, and Ensure Government Accountability in Parliament

Party insiders, speaking on condition of anonymity, have revealed that the shadow cabinet was secretly formed last month. Its members have already begun reviewing the activities of various ministries, the national budget, and the government's first 180 days in office.

Previously, there had been consideration of forming a shadow cabinet on an alliance basis, but ultimately Jamaat decided to create this structure independently. The shadow cabinet includes top party leaders, Members of Parliament, central leaders, as well as sectoral experts, university professors, and former leaders of the Islami Chhatra Shibir. Each government ministry has a corresponding shadow minister, and each will be supported by a team focused on that portfolio. Responsibilities may also be delegated to shadow deputy ministers as needed, the party said.

Jamaat leaders said that the shadow cabinet has three main objectives: to regularly monitor government activities, to identify government errors or weaknesses and propose alternative courses of action, and to develop competent leadership and potential ministers for the future. In other words, the framework is designed not merely to oppose but also to prepare an alternative approach to governance.

Explaining the shadow cabinet's functions, Jamaat's top lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir said that in countries with constructive democratic politics, the opposition typically forms a parallel or shadow cabinet alongside the government's cabinet. This allows for monitoring of ministry activities, constructive criticism, and necessary cooperation.

Political analysts also view the shadow cabinet concept positively. Professor Dr. S. M. Ali Reza, a political analyst from the Department of Political Science at the University of Dhaka, said that the shadow cabinet is not a new idea in parliamentary democracy; it is an established practice in countries with strong civic and political cultures. In his view, the shadow cabinet creates a psychological pressure on the government and provides the opposition with an institutional framework for constructive criticism. When the government presents a budget or major policy proposal, the relevant shadow ministers can present alternative budgets or policy proposals to the public. This fosters comparative discussion and also gives the government an opportunity to adopt necessary improvements.