In a virtual address to a discussion forum in Kolkata on Monday evening, Awami League leader and son of five-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, delivered a stark warning about the country’s scheduled February 12 elections.
He described the polls as a “sham” orchestrated by an unelected regime backed by Islamist extremists, predicting dire outcomes including a weakened government under foreign influence or a surge in radical Islamism. He called on the international community to denounce the elections immediately to prevent them from proceeding.
The event, framed around a discussion of the recently published book Inshallah Bangladesh: The Story of an Unfinished Revolution, was organised by Khola Hawa at the Satyajit Ray Auditorium, ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations), 9A Ho Chi Minh Sarani, Kolkata-71.
His speech, which revisited the events leading to the ouster of the Awami League government in 2024 and critiqued the current interim administration led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, emphasised the need for global action to halt what he termed an unfair electoral process.
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“This is your last chance to prevent Jamaat-e-Islami from becoming a major force in Bangladeshi politics,” he stated, appealing to audiences in India and beyond.
From Protests To Regime Change
Sajeeb Wazed began by recounting the origins of the 2024 unrest that toppled his mother’s government. He acknowledged the legitimacy of student protests against an outdated quota system for government jobs, noting that the Awami League had previously abolished the quotas, only for them to be reinstated by court order.
However, he admitted a key failure: poor communication from the government, which allowed the movement to escalate.
According to Joy, opposition forces, including Islamists and external actors like the CIA, exploited the situation, turning peaceful demonstrations violent. “Militants who were armed started attacking police stations,” he said, citing audio recordings from Sheikh Hasina presented in court as evidence.
Sajeeb Wazed lamented the loss of life, including innocent protesters, but insisted militants, not the government, initiated the violence. A UN report cited 1,400 deaths, but Joy criticised it for inaccurately blaming the Awami League for killings that occurred after the regime’s fall, including those of police officers and party activists.
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Islamist Backing And Suppression
Sajeeb Wazed painted a grim picture of the Yunus-led interim government, which he described as unelected and lacking any mandate after 18 months in power. He accused the regime of releasing convicted terrorists early on, including those involved in the 2016 Holy Artisan Bakery attack, blogger killings, and the murder of a US embassy staffer. “This regime is backed by the Islamists,” he asserted, claiming that extremists formed the “nucleus” of the new power structure and have openly taken credit for the violence that led to the 2024 “revolution.”
He highlighted ongoing repression, including attacks on judges, media outlets, and critics. Progressive television stations and newspapers like Prothom Alo and The Daily Star have been targeted with arson, he said, while the regime deflects blame to “mob justice” or “pressure groups.” The ordinance granting immunity for post-2024 killings of Awami League supporters and police further underscores the regime’s bias.
The February 12 Elections: A “Two-Horse Race” Amid Bans
With elections just 10 days away at the time of his speech, Sajeeb Wazed dismissed any notion of fairness. He alleged a de facto ban on the Awami League, Bangladesh’s largest progressive party, under the pretext of its role in the 2024 deaths. However, he argued this extends to all progressive forces: the Jatiya Party’s offices have been burned, leaders imprisoned, and activities curtailed. Smaller parties face similar suppression, leaving the field to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami.
He warned of electoral manipulation, including the introduction of postal voting—a first in Bangladesh’s history—which he claimed is prone to fraud. Videos circulating online purportedly show pre-filled ballots favouring Jamaat and a controversial referendum on constitutional changes. “Postal ballots allow stuffing without visibility,” he said, noting that foreign observers and journalists have limited oversight.
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The referendum, which he said is unconstitutional based on past court rulings, aims to amend the constitution without proper representation, potentially requiring a two-thirds parliamentary majority. He accused the regime of pushing it to weaken future governments, making single-party rule impossible and ensuring coalitions that are easier to control externally.
Puppet Government Or Islamist Surge
Sajeeb Wazed outlined two primary scenarios, both alarming. If the BNP, led by Tarique Rahman from exile, wins, it would be a “puppet” of the United States, he claimed. Rahman, convicted on corruption charges with FBI testimony, faces potential US extradition, giving Washington leverage.
He pointed to the BNP’s recent flip-flop on the referendum—shifting from opposition to support—as evidence of US influence, aimed at creating a perpetually weak coalition government.
Alternatively, Jamaat-e-Islami could gain outsized power. Historically polling at 5-10%, Jamaat might secure 10-15% of seats even in a fair vote, but with progressive parties sidelined, its influence could balloon. Joy described Jamaat as inherently extremist, with a charter calling for Shariah law and an Islamic state.
“There is no such thing as a moderate Islamist party,” he said, warning of increased terrorism, minority persecution, and regional instability.
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He noted the release of al-Qaeda operatives and public rallies by Lashkar-e-Tayyiba commanders under the current regime, predicting a “free hand” for Pakistan-backed groups if Jamaat rises. For neighbouring India, this poses “serious security implications” on its eastern border, reversing the stability achieved during the Awami League’s 17-year rule, when minorities were safest, and terrorism was curbed.
Even without a Jamaat victory, Sajeeb Wazed argued, the party would wield disproportionate influence in a BNP-led coalition, fostering a climate of fear where undecided voters—over half the electorate in recent polls—remain silent due to intimidation.
Denounce And Stop the Elections
Sajeeb Wazed urged immediate international intervention to halt the polls, rejecting the idea that they represent relief from the current regime. “The international community now needs to denounce these elections as not free and fair,” he said, emphasising that waiting for results or focusing on turnout is futile amid alleged fraud like inflated postal votes.
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He stressed that this is not solely about restoring the Awami League, which he claims retains 40% support as the party of independence and progressivism. Instead, it’s about preventing radical Islam and terrorism from dominating for the next 5-10 years. “If you believe the people don’t like the Awami League, let them vote against it,” he said. “Why fear the Awami League running?”
Without preemptive denunciation, Joy warned, Bangladesh faces a “stage-managed government” leading to murky, unstable times, with minorities fleeing and insurgents active. He thanked the forum’s organisers and audience, concluding with “Joy Bangla,” the Awami League’s rallying cry.
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