‘We Will Not Leave Our People Alone:’ Is Sheikh Hasina’s Son Hinting At Entering Politics?

By OB Bureau On Aug 9, 2024

New Delhi: Blaming Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, for fuelling the ongoing unrest in the country, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy on Thursday said that his mother be back in the country as soon as democracy is restored. However, it is not yet clear whether 76-year-old Hasina will be back as a “retired or active” politician.

Joy stressed that the members of the Sheikh Mujib (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) family will neither abandon its people nor leave the beleaguered Awami League in the lurch.

“Yes, it is true that I had said she wouldn’t return to Bangladesh. But a lot has changed in the last two days following continuous attacks on our leaders and party workers across the country. Now we are going to do whatever it takes to keep our people safe; we are not going to leave them alone. Awami League is the largest and oldest political party in Bangladesh, so we cannot just walk away from our people. She will definitely return to Bangladesh once democracy is restored,” Joy was quoted as saying by PTI.

Calling the Awami League an “all-weather ally of India,” Joy appealed to India to ensure the security of Awami League leaders in Bangladesh by building international pressure. He further expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government for protecting his mother.

Joy also urged the interim government, headed by Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus, to restore law and order, noting that “the country is turning into a state of anarchy and becoming a second Afghanistan in the region,” the report added.

Joy refused to comment directly on whether he and his sister Saima Wazed, who is currently the South East Asian regional director for the World Health Organization, would enter politics.

“I can’t give a definite reply to this question. But I will do whatever it takes to save Bangladesh and protect the Awami League. The Mujib family would not leave them in a lurch,” said Joy, the former Information and Communication Technology Advisor to Hasina, News18 reported.