Amid uncertainty regarding Sheikh Hasina’s asylum destination, her son and former advisor, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, confirmed on Monday that the ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh will not be returning to the political arena.
Speaking on BBC World Service’s Newshour, Joy stated that Hasina left Bangladesh for her safety following her resignation earlier. Hasina, who served as the prime minister for 15 years, fled the country as protests against her government intensified.
Joy revealed that Hasina had been contemplating resignation since Sunday and ultimately decided to leave due to safety concerns, following strong advice from her family.
Joy expressed his mother’s profound disappointment, contrasting her achievements with the current unrest. “She has turned Bangladesh around,” Joy stated during his interview with the BBC. “When she assumed power, the country was struggling, but it is now seen as one of Asia’s rising tigers. Her disappointment is immense,” he added.
Rejecting allegations that the government had been heavy-handed in dealing with protesters, Joy defended their actions by saying, “You’ve had policemen beaten to death – 13 just yesterday. So what do you expect the police to do when mobs are beating people to death?”
On Monday, Hasina resigned as the prime minister and left Bangladesh along with her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana. Their special flight landed at Hindon Air Base on the outskirts of Delhi, while thousands of protesters ransacked her home in Dhaka, taking away belongings.
But who is Sajeeb Wazed Joy?
Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, born on July 27, 1971, also known as Sajeeb Wazed Joy, is a Bangladeshi businessman and politician. He is a member of the Bangladesh Awami League and has served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on information and communication technology affairs.
Wazed was born in Dhaka during the Bangladesh Liberation War. His parents are Dr. M. A. Wazed Miah, a nuclear scientist, and Sheikh Hasina Wazed. In August 1975, his grandparents and uncles were assassinated during a military coup in Bangladesh; however, he, his parents, and his aunt survived as they were visiting West Germany at the time.
The military regime barred the family from entering Bangladesh until 1981. After their return, his mother assumed the presidency of the Awami League and led the campaign for the restoration of democracy alongside her main rival, Khaleda Zia.
Wazed attended boarding schools in India, including St. Joseph’s College in Nainital and Kodaikanal International School in the Palani Hills, Tamil Nadu. He initially studied computer science at the University of Bangalore before transferring to the University of Texas at Arlington in the United States, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering.
He later attended the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University, completing a Master of Public Administration.