Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has stated that his mother will return to Bangladesh once elections are declared. Following her abrupt resignation and flight to India amidst violent protests, Hasina's future remains uncertain. Reports indicate that more than 500 individuals lost their lives during the recent unrest, which erupted against her administration and was marked by a brutal police crackdown.
The protests began as a student-led movement opposing quotas in civil service jobs but quickly escalated into widespread demonstrations demanding Hasina's ousting. The violence has been described as the worst Bangladesh has experienced since its war of independence in 1971. Joy, an information technology expert residing in the United States, affirmed his mother's intention to come back, stating, “Absolutely, she will come,” once the interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, decides to hold elections.
Following Hasina's departure, large crowds stormed her official residence in Dhaka, reflecting the anger and frustration of the populace. The new military-backed interim government, sworn in with Yunus at the helm, includes two advisers who were leaders in the student protests. Joy has expressed confidence that if elections are conducted fairly, the Awami League, his mother’s political party, would secure victory.
Despite his optimism about the Awami League's prospects, Joy has described the interim government as unconstitutional and called for elections to be held within 90 days. He has refrained from discussing his own political ambitions, although he has expressed anger over the recent attacks on their ancestral homes, including a museum dedicated to his grandfather, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh.
In the wake of the unrest, reports have surfaced suggesting that Hasina may seek asylum in the UK, the United Arab Emirates, or Saudi Arabia. However, Joy has dismissed these rumors, asserting that his mother has not applied for asylum anywhere and is currently monitoring the situation in Bangladesh. “Her ultimate goal is always to go back home in Bangladesh,” he emphasized.
Joy acknowledged that some mistakes were made during Hasina's 15-year rule, particularly regarding human rights violations and extrajudicial killings. He noted that accountability measures have been taken, citing a minister’s son who was convicted of extrajudicial killings as an example of the government's efforts to address wrongdoing. Joy defended his mother's tenure, insisting that she aimed to do the right thing amid challenging circumstances.
As the political landscape in Bangladesh continues to shift, the question of Hasina's return looms large. With her son expressing determination to support the Awami League and its supporters, the future of Bangladesh's political scene remains uncertain, as both sides prepare for what could be a contentious electoral process.
