In a stark contrast to the deceptive spin peddled by a government spokesperson in a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Sajeeb Wazed Joy—son of exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a key Awami League voice—delivered a measured, fact-based rebuttal in his own appearance, dismantling propaganda and exposing the interim regime’s authoritarian playbook.
While Muhammad Yunus’ press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, shamelessly whitewashed mob violence, defended the unconstitutional ban on the Awami League, and smeared opponents with vengeful lies—calling party members “thugs” unfit for politics—Sajeeb Wazed provided context and clarity, highlighting the regime’s failures ahead of the rigged February 12, 2026, elections.
Defending Sheikh Hasina Against Fabricated Claims
Sajeeb Wazed directly addressed leaked audio recordings—widely cited by outlets like Al Jazeera and BBC—where Hasina appeared to authorise lethal force during the 2024 protests. He firmly stated the orders were taken out of context, intended to protect lives and property from militants, not to target peaceful protesters.
“If Sheikh Hasina had ordered the army to open fire and kill protesters to suppress the quota reform movement,” he argued, “she would still be in power today.” This directly counters Shafiqul’s inflammatory accusations that Awami League activists, including student and youth wings, were armed and killing people—claims made without evidence to justify the party’s illegal exclusion from polls.
Sajeeb described his mother’s ouster as marking “the end of the Hasina era” in a sense, noting she was elderly and had planned this as her final term. “She’s old, my mother’s elderly. This was going to be her last term anyway. She wanted to retire,” he said, emphasising the Awami League’s enduring legacy as Bangladesh’s oldest party, which will continue “with or without her.”
No one lives forever, he added—a dignified acknowledgement absent from Shafiqul’s vengeful tirades labelling Sheikh Hasina a “notorious mass murderer.”
Exposing Electoral Rigging And The Postal Ballot Scam
Sajeeb Wazed has repeatedly called out the Yunus-led interim government’s blueprint for fraud, particularly through postal ballot manipulation—a scheme Shafiqul’s regime has ignored or downplayed. On January 14, 2026, in X posts, he revealed hundreds of ballots sent to single addresses in Bahrain and Kuwait, describing it as an easy way to stuff votes abroad, bypass observers, and inflate counts unverifiably.
“It is likely that hundreds of thousands if not millions of postal ballots have been sent abroad to fake voters,” he warned, labeling it a clear rigging tactic since domestic ballot stuffing would be harder to conceal with foreign monitors present.
These revelations align with broader criticisms of the February 12 polls as a “staged drama” and “rigged trap,” especially with the Awami League banned since May 2025.
A Patriotic Duty To Reject Fundamentalism
On January 18, 2026, Sajeeb urged a mass boycott, declaring: “This is not a vote, it’s a trap—to save Bangladesh, Bangladesh will not take part in this rigged election.” He framed participation as legitimizing fundamentalism and militancy, accusing the Jamaat-backed Yunus regime of using the polls to entrench extremists—echoing how militants allegedly hijacked the 2024 student protests to seize power.
“This is not a call for a vote boycott; it is a call to save the state,” he wrote. “Boycott this illegal, rigged election. NO BOAT, NO VOTE.” Appealing to parents’ conscience, he stressed protecting children’s future from fundamentalism, positioning the boycott as a non-partisan patriotic act rather than mere politics.
Incapable Of Inciting Violence Under Current Repression
Addressing accusations linking the Awami League to incidents like the murder of jihadist youth leader Osman Goni alias Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, Sajeeb dismissed them outright. “If we had the ability to conduct killings in Bangladesh right now, do you think this regime would still be standing?” he asked the Al Jazeera reporter, pointing to the party’s severe suppression—thousands arrested, activities banned—making such operations impossible. This undercuts Shafiqul’s baseless smears and highlights the regime’s own failures in curbing mob violence and impunity.
India’s Stance And Hasina’s Safety
On extradition, Sajeeb Wazed asserted India would not hand over Sheikh Hasina due to lack of evidence and adherence to due process. “India is currently the safest place for her,” he said, though she wishes to return and retire—contrasting sharply with Shafiqul’s aggressive demands and insults.
Sajeeb Wazed’s interview and statements stand as a powerful counter to Shafiqul Alam’s propagandist lies, vengeful attacks, and defense of unconstitutional overreach. While the regime’s mouthpiece peddles denial and division, Sajeeb exposes electoral fraud, calls for accountability, and defends democratic principles—proving that truth, not spin, will ultimately judge Bangladesh’s future.
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