Bangladesh Jamaat‑e‑Islami, opposition party, has moved closer to forming a shadow cabinet designed to offer constructive criticism of government decisions and present alternative policy proposals, say several senior leaders of the party.
The preliminary structure of a shadow cabinet, covering all ministries, has already been drawn up, they told The Daily Star recently. The party, however, has not yet made any announcement on the matter.
“The shadow cabinet will not only offer constructive criticism but also provide suggestions and guidance to the government when necessary.”
Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, assistant secretary general of Jamaat‑e‑Islami
Alongside the party’s top leaders, policy experts, lawyers, university teachers, businesspeople and former bureaucrats were involved in drafting the structure.
Party leaders said they want to further assess the structure before rolling it out, as the concept is new in Bangladesh. Based on the outcome, an operational framework may be finalised ahead of the next parliamentary session beginning on June 7. If everything goes according to plan, the names of shadow cabinet members will be announced during the session.
Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, who heads its central publicity department, said, “Initially, there were discussions about forming it jointly [with alliance partners], but then we decided to proceed independently.”
According to the initial structure, each ministry-based team will consist of three to five members. Each team will be led by either a lawmaker, a senior party leader or an expert, he said.
“They will regularly hold seminars, symposiums, and press briefings on emerging issues. The shadow cabinet will not only offer constructive criticism but also provide suggestions and guidance to the government when necessary,” he said.
When asked why Jamaat is leaving its allies out of the shadow cabinet, Zubair said that such a decision stems from the nature of the initiative.
He explained that a coordinated, alliance-based approach was needed for the national election. “However, other matters -- such as local government issues or policy perspectives -- are shaped by each party’s own thoughts and priorities.
“We are working on this initiative with our own experts. Over time, we may consider whether a more coordinated format can be worked out.”
Maulana Abdul Halim, assistant secretary general and a member of Jamaat’s central executive council, said an announcement in this regard may come before the next session of the Jatiya Sangsad.
The party chief will decide on the date, he added.
The concept of a shadow cabinet originates from the Westminster parliamentary system in the United Kingdom, where it is formally known as the shadow cabinet.
Under the system, the opposition monitors, critiques, and proposes policy alternatives to the government. It is aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in parliamentary democracy. Similar practices exist in other countries, including Australia and Canada.
Like the government’s cabinet, the shadow cabinet assigns members to specific portfolios, allowing them to oversee the corresponding ministries. However, it is not mandatory to mirror every ministry; the composition remains a strategic choice for the opposition.
In Bangladesh, the idea of forming a shadow cabinet gained attention soon after the February 12 parliamentary election in which the BNP emerged victorious with 209 seats. The Jamaat-led alliance won 77 seats, of which the Islamist party secured 68 seats alone.
On February 17, the day lawmakers were sworn in, Jamaat Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman posted on the party’s verified Facebook page, “As part of efforts to ensure accountability and transparency, we will form a shadow cabinet that will analyse all decisions taken in public interest, challenge them responsibly when needed, and strengthen the overall process.”
The BNP welcomed the move.
Speaking in parliament on April 30, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said, “There are two benefits of having a shadow cabinet -- it increases a sense of responsibility and offers the satisfaction of holding ministerial roles, albeit informally … As counterparts, we will exchange information, maintain communication, and engage in discussions.”
WHAT EXPERTS SAY
Sabbir Ahmed, a professor of political science at Dhaka University, said, “A shadow cabinet enables constructive engagement, enhances government accountability and makes the opposition’s role in parliamentary politics more effective.”
But for that, the opposition must have a strong internal unit capable of working consistently on various policy issues. At the same time, the government needs to adopt a cooperative approach, he observed.
“Whenever the government introduces a policy, the opposition can offer a counterproposal, fostering a competitive environment in policymaking that can ultimately improve policy quality.”
Political analyst Altaf Parvez said, “If a shadow cabinet functions properly, it can create space for fact-based discussions between relevant ministers and their counterparts.
“At present, much of political discourse revolves around rhetoric or historical debates, while critical contemporary issues -- ranging from agriculture to education to infrastructure -- receive little attention.”
A functioning shadow cabinet could bring these sectoral issues to the forefront of politics, making discourse more relevant to people’s everyday life, he added.
