Amid the recent turmoil in Bangladesh, Sajeeb Wazed, the son of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has expressed profound concerns regarding the “anarchy” that has gripped the nation. In conversation with a media source, he highlighted the escalating violence, particularly against minorities, following his mother’s departure to India amid the political unrest.
There is no rule of law
“The developments in Bangladesh are terrible. It’s anarchy; you have no rule of law. You have mobs running the streets, vandalizing homes, factories, and from what I’ve heard, now they’re attacking minorities. You know, the militants are attacking minorities and Hindu temples. So Bangladesh is actually in a state of anarchy,” Wazed remarked.
These comments come shortly after Bangladesh experienced significant chaos, prompting Sheikh Hasina to seek refuge in India. Subsequently, the Bangladesh army announced the formation of an interim government.
Reflecting on the stance of the international community, Wazed pointed out, “The international community was busy criticizing my mother for this and that.” Under Hasina’s 15-year tenure as prime minister, Bangladesh enjoyed a period of stability and rapid economic growth.
Regarding his recent communication with his mother, Wazed stated, “Yes, I spoke to her this morning. She’s in good spirits but she is very, very disheartened and very disappointed with the people of Bangladesh. After all she has done, after all the development, Bangladesh will now become Pakistan.”
No plans to return to politics
Wazed emphasized that there are no plans for his mother to return to Bangladesh in the near future. “Absolutely not. She is 77 years old. This was going to be her last term. She was going to retire after this anyway. So they are now hunting our Awami League leaders and the interim government doesn’t even include the Awami League, so why would we bother. People have made their choice and they will get the leadership they deserve.”
When questioned about his own political aspirations, Wazed responded unequivocally, “No. My family has been through this three times, three coups. After this, we are done. We are tired of saving Bangladesh. Bangladesh can handle its own problem now. It’s all our problem.”
Addressing the vandalism of statues of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Wazed expressed his disappointment, saying that the people of Bangladesh are very ungrateful. “They’re very, very ungrateful, and they deserve the leadership they get. It’s their problem. Not mine anymore.”
Reflecting on the personal impact of the current situation, Wazed admitted, “Absolutely, of course it is. Of course it is because I myself have helped modernize Bangladesh, digitize Bangladesh, and bring it into the 21st century. I have worked so hard myself, without any pay from the Government of Bangladesh. I worked as an honorary advisor. I did not take a penny from the Government of Bangladesh. And I accomplished it. I built digital Bangladesh, my mother turned the country around from a poor country into a middle-income country. And in history books, Sheikh Hasina’s term will always be remembered as a golden age of Bangladesh because it is as good as it was going to get. After this, it’s all downhill.”
Despite the ongoing turmoil, Wazed had no specific messages for the international community, “No, because the international community was busy criticizing my mother for this and that. So now enjoy, watch. Watch the minorities getting killed. This is what you wanted. You didn’t want Sheikh Hasina, fine. This is what happens without Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh.”
Regarding the interim government’s potential to restore order, Wazed was skeptical: “Well, that remains to be seen, but I doubt it. I mean, you look at it today. Even now there’s violence all over the country. What is the interim? What is the military doing? What is the interim government doing? Nothing. They have no power.”
As for Sheikh Hasina’s future plans, Wazed mentioned that she has not made any further decisions: “No, she has not planned to go anywhere. She has made no decisions since she has retired. She will live out the rest of her time playing with her grandchildren.”
Detailing his mother’s plans, he said, “My whole family, we have lived outside of Bangladesh for decades now. We are well settled. So she will probably come to my house. Spending time with my daughter, she will go to my sister’s house, spend time with her kid, go to my aunt and spend time with the grandkids. That’s what she will do. She will be a nice grandmother now.”
In closing, Wazed wished the people of Bangladesh good luck as they prepare to move forward after Hasin’s resignation.
