Sheikh Hasina’s son after political turmoil in Bangladesh
With a sea of protestors approaching fast, officials calculated that Hasina just 45 minutes from her residence, the former Bangladesh PM faced a harrowing decision. Should she heed the advice of her inner circle and refrain from exerting force on her people, or should she escape?
Son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sajeeb Wazed Joy asked the Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and the military to honor their duty by protecting the constitution and thwarting any attempts by unelected entities to usurp power, even momentarily. He cautioned that failing to do so could undo 15 years of progress and steer Bangladesh toward a path similar to Pakistan’s troubled trajectory.
In a statement posted on X, Joy said, “To the Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and our military: I urge you to understand your responsibility–to keep our people safe, to keep our country safe, and to protect and uphold our constitution. This means that no unelected government should be allowed to hold power, even for one minute. This is your duty. If this happens, we risk ending up like Pakistan. All our 15 years of progress could be undone, and Bangladesh may never recover. I do not want that, and neither do you. As long as I am able, I will not allow it.”
Joy also strongly denounced the ongoing protests, characterizing them as terrorism due to the associated violence and loss of life. “Power cannot be seized through violence and killing. This is not a protest; when police killings occur, innocent people are targeted, homes are set on fire and journalists are killed–it turns into terrorism. Terrorism can only be fought in one way. I request that our law enforcement agencies have shown great patience. However, this cannot be tolerated any longer,” he said.
Earlier, Joy revealed that his mother, Sheikh Hasina, will not be returning to politics following her resignation and departure from Bangladesh after a 15-year tenure as Prime Minister. In an interview with BBC, Joy said that Hasina was disappointed that a minority rose up against her despite her hard work in transforming Bangladesh from a failing state into one of Asia’s rising tigers.
The political situation in Bangladesh remains unstable following Hasina’s resignation amidst intensifying protests. Initially driven by students demanding the abolition of the quota system for government jobs, the demonstrations have expanded into broader anti-government protests. Recent clashes in Dhaka claimed at least 135 lives, including 14 police officers, with hundreds more injured.
After her resignation, Sheikh Hasina arrived in India on Monday evening, with some reports suggesting that she might seek refuge in London. In response to the crisis, the Cabinet Committee on Security convened at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, with senior officials and key ministers in attendance to discuss the situation in Bangladesh.