WASHINGTON: The son of exiled Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, said his mother had already intended to step away from politics. He described her removal from power as effectively marking the end of the Hasina era.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Wazed Joy said Sheikh Hasina, now elderly, had reached the final term of her government.
“She wanted to retire,” he said. “This term was her last. She is old and ready to step down.”
Wazed Joy added that the Awami League would continue to exist without Sheikh Hasina.
“This is a 70-year-old party. With her or without her, it will endure. No one lives forever.”
Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh for India in August 2024 after weeks of mass protests. Security force crackdowns during the unrest killed hundreds. The United Nations estimated roughly 1,400 deaths, drawing international criticism.
Responding to leaked audio clips aired by Al Jazeera and the BBC, in which Sheikh Hasina was alleged to have authorized lethal force, Wazed Joy said the recordings were presented out of context.
“The orders were not aimed at peaceful protesters,” he said. “They were intended to protect lives and property from extremist elements.”
On Bangladesh’s demand for her extradition, Wazed Joy said India would not hand her over.
“There is no solid evidence against her. India respects legal processes,” he said. “For now, India is the safest place for her, though she hopes to return home for a peaceful retirement.”
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He also strongly denied allegations linking the Awami League to inciting violence or the killing of young leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
“If we had the ability to carry out murders in Bangladesh, would the current government still be in power?” he asked.
