By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who recently resigned and fled the country amid widespread unrest, will return once elections are announced, according to her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy. Currently in India, Hasina left Bangladesh earlier this week following protests that led to over 500 deaths, many caused by police actions. The unrest, which began as a student led movement against civil service quotas, escalated into a mass movement to remove Hasina from power.
Wazed, an IT expert residing in the U.S., confirmed in an interview with us that his mother would return when the interim government decides to hold elections. The military backed interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, was sworn in recently along with 16 advisers, including two student protest leaders.
Wazed, who served as an IT adviser during Hasina’s tenure from 2009 to 2024, expressed uncertainty about whether his mother would return to politics but voiced confidence that the Awami League, her party, would win a free and fair election. He criticized the current interim government as unconstitutional and called for elections within 90 days. However, Wazed was noncommittal about his own political future, despite being upset over recent violence, including attacks on his family’s ancestral homes.
Reports suggest that Hasina and her sister are currently stranded in Delhi, with speculation about seeking asylum in the UK, UAE, or Saudi Arabia, though Wazed dismissed these as rumors. He stated that Hasina's ultimate goal is to return to Bangladesh. Addressing human rights violations during Hasina’s 15 year rule, Wazed acknowledged mistakes but emphasized efforts to correct them, including the conviction of a minister’s son involved in extra judicial killings.
