Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, has categorically denied that his mother ordered the use of lethal force against protesters during the mass uprising that led to her ousting in August 2024.
In an extensive interview with Al Jazeera journalist Sreenivasan Jain, Joy claimed that while the Awami League government “mishandled” the protests, the killings of hundreds of demonstrators were never sanctioned by the former prime minister.
Joy argued that the survival of her regime would have been guaranteed had she chosen a path of state-sponsored slaughter. “If my mother had been willing to kill protesters, she would still be in power,” he stated, adding that she chose to flee to avoid further bloodshed.
Dispute over audio evidence
A central point of contention in the interview was the existence of audio recordings, reported by Al Jazeera and the BBC, in which Sheikh Hasina is allegedly heard clearing the use of lethal weapons and issuing an “open order” to “shoot wherever they find them.”
Joy dismissed these reports, claiming the media outlets were “selective” and had taken the clips “out of context.”
He maintained that he had posted the “full clip” on his Facebook page, which he claimed proved his mother only authorised force to protect property and life against “militants” and “terrorists.” However, Jain countered that Al Jazeera researchers had “scoured” Joy’s social media pages and could not find any such clip.
Joy described the inability to find the footage as “strange,” alleging that several clips had been taken down by platforms, though he promised to “put it back up” and provide the evidence to the broadcaster.
He insisted that his mother’s actual instructions on the day she fled were to avoid “blood on my hands” even as protesters marched on her residence.
Claims of rigged polls, postal ballot stuffing
Addressing the current political landscape, Joy described the upcoming electoral process under the interim administration as a “farcical” and “rigged” affair.
He alleged that evidence has emerged online showing “hundreds of postal ballots” being stuffed to manipulate results in the absence of the Awami League. Joy stated that his party is currently campaigning to ask citizens not to participate in these elections.
When questioned about his own party’s controversial history with elections, Joy claimed the 2024 landslide victory involved “no rigging” and was only marred by an opposition boycott.
Regarding the 2018 elections, he acknowledged that “people in the administration” committed irregularities but claimed he and his mother were “furious” because internal polling showed they would have won by a minimum 30% margin regardless.
He also rejected accusations that his mother’s government had captured the Election Commission, asserting the body was selected by a committee rather than the executive.
Rejection of UN findings, death tolls
The interview addressed the findings of the UN Human Rights Council and other international watchdogs, which concluded that serious abuses occurred with the “full knowledge, coordination, and direction” of the political leadership.
Joy dismissed these reports as “biased” and a “complete fallacy.”
He specifically disputed the death toll of 1,400 cited by the UN, claiming the official government figure was approximately 800.
Joy alleged that hundreds of deaths occurred between 5 August and 15 August 2024 – after the Awami League fell – for which he claimed the current “regime” must be held responsible.
He also denied the existence of mass graves reported by the current authorities, labelling such claims as fabrications intended to frame the previous administration.
Extradition and judicial “shams” Addressing his mother’s current status in India, Joy described the country as the “safest place in the world for her” and dismissed the possibility of her extradition.
He labelled the judicial proceedings and death sentences issued against her in Bangladesh as a “sham” conducted by a “kangaroo republic,” expressing total confidence in India’s adherence to due process.
Despite the party being currently barred from contesting elections, Joy insisted the Awami League remains a dominant force with a vote share of 40 to 50 per cent, representing up to 70 million voters.
He acknowledged that the “Hasina era” might be ending due to her age, noting she had already intended for this to be her final term.
Corruption and wealth allegations
Joy also refuted allegations of wide-scale embezzlement by his family. He cited his recent acquisition of US citizenship as evidence of his financial transparency, stating he had been vetted by the FBI.
Regarding the Tulip Siddiq controversy in the UK, he described it as a “smear campaign,” and distanced his family from a former minister found with 360 houses in Britain, stating the family could not be held responsible for every individual’s actions.
He concluded by arguing that despite “excesses” committed by some members of the government, the 17 years of Awami League rule provided “unprecedented” economic development and stability.
He challenged the interim government to hold a “fair vote,” suggesting the Awami League remains the only cure for the current “chaos” in Bangladesh.
