Bangladesh, Sept. 15 -- In an unusual turn of events, 25 Chapainawabganj residents identifying themselves as Hindus have joined the Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami.

On Sunday, the new recruits filled out membership forms at the party's district office.

One of them, Suman Kumar Saha, said: "We joined Jamaat-e-Islami because we like the party's political and economic vision. We will follow our religion and they'll follow theirs. No one will have any problem with this."

Those who joined include Sukumar Paramanik, Chandan Das, Sudarshan Mandal, Bakshanath Thakur, Kanai Chowdhury, Bharat Chowdhury, Satish Mandal, Bablu Mandal, Situ Mandal, Sumal Mandal, Dalan Mandal and Montu Lal Chowdhury -- all residents of Ward No. 2 of the muni...