India, Feb. 14 -- Even as the Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) swept the general elections with its allies to form government after 20 years with 212 of the 297 seats, academicians and intelligence officers in India have expressed concern as Jamaat-e-Islami and its 11 allies secured 77 seats, a sizeable chunk of which are located in the districts bordering West Bengal.

Professor Maidul Islam from the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences told HT that with the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League out of the picture the contest was essentially between the Jamaat and BNP.

"BNP's victory indicates that the concept of an independent Bangladesh and nationalism are still important to the masses. Jamaat's efforts to challenge the...