Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Sheikh Hasina’s son and a senior Awami League leader, warned that Bangladesh risks becoming another Pakistan and a failed state.
He delivered the remarks virtually from Maryland during an event at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in New Delhi on Wednesday. Joy claimed foreign intelligence agencies, particularly Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), now operate freely across Bangladesh. He alleged authorities released hundreds of convicted terrorists who had remained imprisoned under the Awami League government. Joy also claimed banned group Hizb ut-Tahrir now conducts public marches openly. He further alleged that individuals linked to al-Qaeda have addressed public rallies without significant government intervention. Joy described these developments as serious security threats for Bangladesh, India, and the wider international community.
Hasina’s Son Alleges Democratic Backsliding in Bangladesh
Joy argued that Bangladesh has effectively become another Pakistan along India’s eastern border, creating major regional security concerns. He warned that Bangladesh could produce future generations of global terrorists unless the international community intervenes quickly. Joy urged Indian media organisations to provide sustained coverage instead of treating the developments as occasional headline stories. His remarks came months after Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections, where the Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured a decisive victory. The BNP formed the government after Muhammad Yunus completed his interim administration. Joy argued the elections lacked full representation because authorities barred the Awami League from participating.
Joy also challenged the reported death toll from the July-August 2024 protests, citing differences between United Nations estimates and official government figures. He questioned why the United Nations had not shared details supporting its higher casualty estimate. Joy criticised the Indemnity Bill, claiming it protected protesters from prosecution for serious crimes. He alleged authorities detained thousands of Awami League members without timely trials or meaningful access to bail. Joy further claimed several detainees died in custody under circumstances he described as extrajudicial killings. He also alleged intelligence officials pressured Indian media organisations before Wednesday’s event to discourage coverage. Joy warned Bangladesh’s economy faced severe risks under continued mismanagement and predicted future elections would remain unfair. His remarks reflect the Awami League’s perspective and remain independently unverified. Bangladesh’s government and other authorities have not yet responded to his specific allegations.
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