Jamaat-e-Islami is stepping up the activities of its youth unit across the country to strengthen its organisational base among young people and increase their involvement in political and social initiatives.

The party has moved to make the unit, which has long existed within its organisational structure but remained relatively low-profile, more visible and active.

According to Jamaat leaders, the youth unit is gaining renewed importance as the party seeks to keep young members engaged after their student years and involve them in community-based activities. The initiative is also aimed at expanding the party’s political presence and nurturing future leaders.

As part of this effort, Jamaat reconstituted the committee of its Dhaka North Metropolitan Youth Unit on May 19. At a conference of departmental officials, former central president of Islami Chhatra Shibir Yasin Arafat was named president, while Mostafa Faisal Parvez was appointed general secretary.

Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, assistant secretary general of Jamaat and president of its central youth unit, said the party is working to make the unit more active to help develop leadership among young people, encourage healthy lifestyles, and steer them away from social ills such as drugs, terrorism, extortion, and illegal weapons.

He said the youth unit was incorporated into Jamaat’s annual organisational plan in 2019, and a committee was formed that year. However, the political circumstances at the time limited the scope for regular organisational activities.

“In the current context, organising young people has become a renewed priority,” Zubair said.

Unlike other political parties that maintain separate youth wings, Jamaat has established a departmental structure within the party to work with young people, he said.

Yasin Arafat said the youth unit is not an independent organisation but operates within Jamaat’s organisational framework.

According to him, the party has guidelines for forming committees of five to seven members at metropolitan and district levels and three to five members at the upazila level. Similar structures are then expanded to union and ward levels.

“Many people view the youth unit as a new initiative, but it has existed for a long time. What we are doing now is reorganising and making it more effective,” he said.

Jamaat and Shibir leaders noted that other political parties have dedicated youth organisations, such as the BNP’s Jubo Dal and NCP’s Juboshakti, alongside the Awami League’s Jubo League, whose activities are currently banned. These organisations often play key roles in mobilising young supporters and implementing political programmes.

Within Jamaat, however, members of Chhatra Shibir traditionally move directly into the parent party after their student years. As a result, party activists have long argued for expanding the role of the youth unit as an intermediate platform for young people.

Zubair said many young people are facing frustration and uncertainty, and Jamaat wants to engage them in national development and prosperity.

“We want to harness the potential of young people to build a Bangladesh free from drugs and terrorism,” he said.

Party leaders claim youth unit structures exist in nearly all districts and upazilas, with some areas having full-fledged committees and others operating through partial committees. They also said the unit played a visible role in support of the party during the 13th parliamentary election.

According to unit leaders, its activities extend beyond organisational expansion.

Recently, it organised nationwide tree-planting programmes marking World Environment Day. Plans are also underway for rallies, seminars, campaigns, and youth gatherings on June 26 and August 12, marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and International Youth Day, respectively.

The unit also focuses on skills development, vocational training, self-employment opportunities, sports competitions, and social and humanitarian activities.

On December 16 last year, it organised a youth marathon in Dhaka, inaugurated by Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman.

Party leaders also said members of the youth unit have played important roles in maintaining discipline, ensuring security, and handling information-related responsibilities during political movements and demonstrations.

Jamaat Central Executive Council member Mobarak Hossain said, “The youth unit’s activities existed in the past as well, but they were not highly visible. Now the programmes are being conducted more openly, and publicity has increased, which is why people are noticing them more.”