Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of Bangladesh’s ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, acknowledged “some initial mistakes” by the Awami League government, which faced accusations of violently suppressing protesters during the July 2024 Uprising.
While the United Nations report estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed, Joy referred to statements from the interim government under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, suggesting that only about 800 lives were lost.
Joy also called for the removal of the ban on the Awami League, stating that an election without the party would lack legitimacy.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Joy emphasised that Bangladesh’s political stability hinged on holding an inclusive election.
“This ban must be lifted. The elections must be inclusive, free, and fair,” said Joy, who served as an adviser in his mother’s administration, speaking from Washington, DC.
“What’s happening now is political manipulation disguised as justice, aimed at preventing my mother and other leaders from running,” he added.
With elections scheduled for February 2026, Bangladesh faces its first polls since the student-led uprising ousted Hasina last year, ending her 15-year rule. Hasina was forced into exile in India.
After her departure, Yunus assumed control, pledging reforms.
In May, his government banned Awami League activities and arrested key party figures, while others, including former Cabinet ministers, fled the country. Hasina and her family, including Joy, face charges ranging from corruption to crimes against humanity.
Joy warns election won’t be recognised
Six human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists, appealed to Yunus to lift the broad ban on Awami League, calling it an infringement on freedoms of assembly and expression, and accusing the interim government of using it to arrest party members.
Joy, living in the US for 30 years, warned that an election held under such conditions would lack legitimacy, regardless of when the ban is lifted.
“If the Awami League is not given time to prepare, the election will be a sham,” he said.
Bangladesh, a parliamentary democracy of 170 million people, has 52 political parties. The downfall of Hasina’s government last year has left the nation’s democratic future uncertain.
Islamist party returns
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, remains the primary challenger in the upcoming election. Another significant force, Jatiya Party, faces violent opposition, with its headquarters attacked and rallies thwarted.
Meanwhile, the largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, has re-entered politics after more than a decade of suppression. Over the past year, it has gained strength and sought to form alliances with hard-line Islamist groups.
Joy warned that Islamists could gain ground if the country remains unstable, accusing Yunus of supporting their rise by planning a “rigged election.”
Human rights concerns
While Joy expressed regret over the deaths during the uprising, he questioned the Yunus government’s decision to grant immunity to protestors involved in the violence. He also accused the interim government of launching a political witch-hunt against Hasina, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity.
A prosecutor in Bangladesh’s special tribunal recently sought the death penalty for Hasina, who refused legal representation, labeling the trial a “kangaroo court.”
Joy also condemned the government’s crackdown on Awami League supporters, claiming that tens of thousands have been jailed without bail, with many charged with murder. He claimed that over 500 party activists have been killed, mostly by mobs, and 31 have died in custody.
“The human rights record of this regime is brutal,” Joy said, highlighting that religious minorities, particularly Hindus, are under attack.
The interim government has denied these allegations of persecuting minorities.
