Recently ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, will return to Bangladesh once elections are declared, according to her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy. Ms. Hasina, who resigned and fled to India earlier this week following widespread unrest, plans to come back to the country as soon as the interim government announces the election date.
Sheikh Hasina’s Exile and Planned Return
Sheikh Hasina, currently in India, was forced to step down after weeks of violent protests that resulted in over 500 deaths, many of which were due to police actions. The unrest, initially sparked by student protests against civil service quotas, escalated into a nationwide movement demanding her resignation. Despite the turmoil, her son expressed confidence that the Awami League, the party led by Ms. Hasina, will emerge victorious in the forthcoming elections if they are conducted fairly.
Political Landscape and Human Rights Concerns
The military-backed interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, was sworn in on Thursday, bringing a temporary halt to the violence. However, Sajeeb Wazed Joy criticized the interim government as unconstitutional and called for elections to be held within 90 days. He also addressed concerns about human rights violations during his mother’s 15-year tenure, acknowledging mistakes but emphasizing efforts to correct them. While Joy remains uncertain about his political future, he strongly condemned the recent attacks on his family’s ancestral homes and hinted at potential political involvement in response to the ongoing crisis.
