Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, says his mother had intended to retire from politics after serving out her term before she was overthrown by the July Uprising. He made the remarks to Al Jazeera English in a video interview published on Thursday. Asked if Hasina had planned to retire from politics or if she meant to re-enter politics if she had the chance to return to Bangladesh, Joy said:

“No, she is old. My mother’s elderly. This was going to be her last term anyway. She wanted to retire.”

The interviewer then asked if this spelled the end of the Hasina era.

Joy answered, “Possibly, yes…”

However, he added that the Awami League still intended to go on.

“Awami League is a political party,” he said. “It’s the oldest party. It’s been around for 70 years. It’s, it will continue with or without her. She… No one lives forever.”

Asked about the Awami League’s brutal response to nationwide protests in July 2024, Joy said:

“If you’ve listened to my statements online, I have said again and again the Awami League mishandled the protests. Our government mishandled the protests.”

When the interviewer pushed back, stating that the word “mishandle” was downplaying the killings of hundreds of protesters by security forces, he responded:

“If my mother had been willing to kill protesters, she would still be in power. You look at what’s happening in Iran right now. Are they able to do anything? No. My mother… my mother stated… my mother’s statement again and again, and to me, our, my conversation that day was: ‘They are marching on the prime minister’s residence, our special security force and uh, the prime minister’s guards are ready to defend her, but if we, if that happens, hundreds will die. I don’t want their blood on my hands.’”

“That is what my mother said. During that time, hundreds of police officers were killed. Hundreds of our activists were killed as well.”

Following the July Uprising, reporting from Al Jazeera and the BBC analysed and verified audio recordings in which Hasina is heard to authorise the use of lethal force against protesters. In the clip, she is heard saying: “I’ve issued an open order, now they will use lethal weapons and shoot wherever they find them.”

Joy claims the clip was taken out of context.

“I have put that full clip on my Facebook page,” he said. “She says she orders the arrests of protesters and lethal force to protect property and life against militants. There were militants involved in [the protests]. There are videos online of civilians with weapons…”

The interviewer then states a search of Joy’s social media pages had not found any such clip and asked him to share it. Joy said he would.

Joy also denied that the order had authorised lethal force broadly. He said Hasina’s orders was intended “for violent protesters, armed protesters, terrorists. Not for unarmed protesters… in any country would the government… what happens if there are armed protesters shooting at people and shooting at police? What would they do?”

Asked about specific deaths, such as those of 25-year-old Abu Sayed, 12-year-old Zobaid Hossain Imon, and 25-year-old Mir Rahman Mugdho, he said:

“It was a very violent situation. There were police officers who used excessive force. Our government term, suspended many police officers during that time. We formed a judicial committee to investigate. Why weren’t those investigations continued?”

He added that Hasina had met Abu Sayed’s family after the killing as well as the families of others killed, promising them full investigations into their deaths and accountability for those responsible.

However, Joy also disputed the findings of multiple investigations and watchdogs that put the death toll of the July Uprising around 1,400. He claimed the UN report that determined the toll had blamed deaths after the fall of the Awami League government on its actions.

Asked whether Hasina and the Awami League are unwilling to take accountability for the killings and abuses of state power, he responded, “No, that is not what I’m saying at all. What I’m saying is this. We did not grant immunity to anyone. We wanted justice for everyone. Anyone who was responsible for any deaths…”

When asked if Hasina would be held accountable if she was responsible, Joy said:

“My mother did not order any killings. My mother did not want any deaths.”

‘IF YOU BACK SOMEONE INTO A CORNER, WHAT WILL THEY DO?’

As the upcoming general election looms closer, the Awami League have come out in opposition to the polls and to their ban from contesting them.

Some of Joy’s own words on the matter have been described as incendiary. In a previous interview, he said: “We will not allow elections without the Awami League to go ahead. We will do whatever it takes. If the governments crack down on our protests, then it’s going to lead to violence.”

Asked about this aggressive stance, Joy said: “When you push someone into a corner, what else… what’s going to happen? We don’t want violence. We’re not even being allowed to protest. So what violence is the Awami League committing right now? … What I’m saying is if you back someone into a corner, you do not leave them any options; what are they going to do?”

The interviewer then asked whether this rhetoric and its violent implications were not the very justification the interim government was using to ban the Awami League as a violent threat.

Joy said, “I did not threaten violence. I said that if you suppress the protests with violence, of course there will be violence. I did not ask my protesters to attack.”

“Look, if we had the ability to conduct killings in Bangladesh right now, do you think this regime would still be standing? No. Right now the Awami League… we do not have the violent, uh, personnel, if you will, that perhaps some other organisations have…”

He also disputed allegations that the Awami League was involved in the killing of Inqilab Moncho convener Sharif Osman Hadi.

“I don’t know who the shooter is,” he said. “There have been many names that have been floated.”

“Again, do you see the Awami League out on the streets in Bangladesh? That’s not even happening. We have tens of thousands behind bars. Every time we’ve tried to protest, they’ve just arrested everybody. So, the Awami League is not involved in any violence whatsoever. Our campaign now is asking people not to vote in these rigged elections. That’s what we’re doing.”

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has bashed Jamaat-e-Islami and the party’ recent activities during the launch of the election campaign at a rally at the Alia Madrasa ground in Sylhet. He called a member of the audience to the stage and said, “You have been to the Kaaba Sharif. Who owns the Kaaba Sharif?” The man responded, “Allah.”

Tarique then said, “We are all Muslims. Who is the owner of this world that we see in this day and age?” The man again responded, “Allah.”

“Who is the owner of the sun and the stars that we see?” Tarique asked, and the answer came “Allah.”

The BNP Chairman asked, “Who is the owner of heaven?”

“Allah.”

“Who is the owner of hell?”

“Allah,” the man said, as the crowd chanted in unison, “Allah, Allah.”

Then Tarique said: “You all bore witness that the owner of hell is Allah; the owner of heaven is Allah; the owner of this world is Allah; the owner of the Kaaba is Allah. Brother, does anyone else have the power to give away what is owned by Allah? No. So, before the election, if a party says, ‘We will give you this, we will give you that,’ doesn’t that mean ‘I will sell you tickets?’”

“If they speak of things that are not owned by humans – isn’t that ‘Shirk’? If they speak of something that is owned by Allah, which only Allah has control over? Only Allah has rights over everything – Allah has rights above all.

“That is why they are cheating you already. Then think how they will cheat you after the election.”

The BNP chairman said, “They are not only deceiving the people, they are making those who are Muslims commit ‘Shirk’. We seek refuge in Allah.”

“Dear brothers and sisters, this country, this country, this beloved motherland, was liberated at the cost of the lives of millions of people during the war in 1971. We saw what roles people played during the liberation of this motherland. We saw who played a role in hundreds and thousands of our brothers being martyred. The honour of hundreds of thousands of the mothers and sisters of this country was defiled. The people of Bangladesh already know them.”

Tarique said, “We have to unite against this apostacy, this rashness, this lie. We have to take back Bangladesh.

“We have freed the country from tyranny, now we have to establish human rights. Just establishing the right to vote and speak is not enough; we have to make arrangements to empower people and raise them onto their own feet. We have to make arrangements so that every person in Bangladesh can eat properly and live well. We have to make arrangements so that every person can walk safely on the streets. That is what it means to take back Bangladesh.”

Bangladesh Nationalist Party has announced a seven-day mourning period following the death of the party’s chairperson and Bangladesh’s three-time former prime minister Khaleda Zia. The announcement was made at a press conference held at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday morning by BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Rizvi said that during the seven-day period, party leaders and activists would wear black badges. Quran recitations and prayer gatherings will be held in all offices. Condolence books will be opened at the BNP headquarters in Paltan and Gulshan. The schedule for her burial and final rites will be announced later. Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, passed away at 6:00am on Tuesday.

The Workers Party of Bangladesh and the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal–Jasod have decided to stay away from the forthcoming general elections and the referendum on the July charter, scheduled for February 12. The two political parties, also the allies of the Awami League-led alliance from 2008 to August 2024, in separate statements, said that they did not submit nomination papers to contest the election and alleged that the election would be held in a unilateral manner.

They also said that cases filed against their party leaders in connection with the July uprising had not been withdrawn, and that this was why they had been refraining from participating in the election.

None of the leaders and activists of the Workers Party of Bangladesh, led by Rashed Khan Menon, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal–Jasod, led by Hasanul Haque Inu, submitted nomination papers for any of the constituencies across the country.

Besides, several leaders of different Jatiya Party factions who initially collected nomination forms refrained from submitting the papers on Monday, the last date for filing nomination papers.

Jatiya Party faction chairman Anwar Hossain Manju, JP’s another faction secretary general ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader, senior co-chairman Kazi Firoz Rashid, and Krishok Sramik Janata League president Abdul Kader Siddique are among the senior leaders of the parties who did not submit their nomination papers within the scheduled time, leaders of the parties said.

They alleged that the interim government and the Election Commission had failed to ensure a level playing field for all political parties. They said that cases filed against their leaders after the July uprising had not been withdrawn. The JP faction in November launched a political alliance named ‘National Democratic Front’, comprising 18 political parties, and had initially prepared to contest the national election.

However, JP faction chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud and executive chairman Mujibul Haque Chunnu submitted their nomination papers on Sunday for their respective constituencies. The Awami League regime was ousted from power on August 5, 2024 amid a mass uprising and the Professor Muhammad Yunus-led interim government took office on August 8, 2024.

Khaleda Zia, three-time former prime minister of Bangladesh and chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, passed away at 6:00am on Tuesday. She was 80. At the time of her death, those present at the hospital included her eldest son and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, his wife Zobaida Rahman, their daughter Zaima Rahman, Khaleda Zia’s younger brother Shamim Eskander and her elder sister Selina Islam.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and members of the medical board were also in attendance. The BNP media cell confirmed the news. Khaleda Zia had been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka for various health complications. She was admitted to the hospital on November 23, and following medical examinations, doctors confirmed that she had developed a lung infection. The veteran politician had long been suffering from multiple health conditions, including arthritis, diabetes, kidney complications and eye problems.

Earlier, she travelled to London on January 7 for advanced medical treatment and returned to Bangladesh on May 6 after receiving medical care for 117 days. Born in Dinajpur district, Khaleda Zia rose to national prominence following the assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, in 1981.

She later led the BNP to multiple electoral victories and served as prime minister from 1991 to 1996, briefly in 1996, and again from 2001 to 2006.

Dhaka – Sajeeb Wazed, son of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has urged Bangladesh’s interim government to lift the ban on the Awami League, warning that elections held without the party would be illegitimate and could deepen political instability.

Speaking to The Associated Press from Washington D.C., Wazed said, “This ban has to be lifted. Elections must be inclusive, free, and fair.” He added that current restrictions are “political manipulation disguised as justice,” aimed at preventing his mother and party leaders from participating in the upcoming polls.

Bangladesh is scheduled to hold national elections in February 2026, the first since a student-led uprising last year ended Hasina’s 15-year rule and forced her into exile in India. Three days after her ouster, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed the role of interim head of government, promising to restore order and implement reforms. In May, his administration banned Awami League activities and arrested many of its senior leaders, while others fled the country.

Wazed stressed that if the Awami League is not given sufficient time to prepare for the election, the results “will not be recognized by the people or by international observers.”

The political landscape remains fragmented. While the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) remains a key contender, the Jatiya Party continues to face suppression, including attacks on its headquarters and disrupted rallies. The Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami has also reemerged, expanding its presence and seeking alliances with other hardline groups. Wazed warned that ongoing instability could benefit Islamist parties and accused the Yunus-led government of facilitating their rise through a “rigged election.”

Wazed also highlighted human rights concerns, citing arrests, custodial deaths, and attacks on religious minorities. He criticized the interim government’s handling of last year’s uprising and questioned the impartiality of special tribunals prosecuting Hasina, including a recent call for the death penalty.

International rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have urged Yunus to lift the “broad ban” on Awami League activities, calling it an excessive restriction on freedom of association, assembly, and expression. The interim government has not commented on Wazed’s remarks.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday urged all political parties to take part in the upcoming national election, putting aside minor differences, to help restore the democratic process in the country.

“I call upon all political parties to join the coming election by putting aside small differences so that together we can bring back democracy in the country and return to the democratic system,” he said.

He made the call while speaking at a program marking the 21st founding anniversary of the Daily Naya Diganta at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital. Fakhrul said he believes the election will be held on time in February 2026. “We also think that through an acceptable election to all, we will get an opportunity to return to a democratic system.”

He said the student-led mass uprising in August 2024 created a new opportunity to establish a truly democratic state.On behalf of the BNP, Fakhrul paid deep tribute to all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in 2024 for freedom and democracy. He mentioned that the interim government has already announced that the election will be held by February next year.

The BNP leader expressed the hope that the reform issues had already been settled, as the political parties had agreed upon them and signed the National July Charter.

He alleged that around 6 million political leaders and activists faced false cases, about 20,000 were killed, and 1,700 others became victims of enforced disappearance during the past “fascist rule” of the Awami League.

Recalling the post-Liberation War period, Fakhrul said the media, particularly the press, faced severe repression. “After the establishment of Baksal in 1975, all newspapers were shut down. I remember that many journalists became unemployed, and some even worked as hawkers in front of Baitul Mukarram, as there were no newspapers left.”

After the political changeover in 1975, he said, BNP founder and late president Ziaur Rahman was the first to move away from the one-party system and introduce multi-party democracy, ensuring press freedom.

“We must not forget that the key reforms began during his (Zia’s) time and were later carried forward by former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia,” Fakhrul added.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has stated that the future of the nation’s economy and its overall political landscape hinges upon the upcoming general election. He alleged that, overall, BNP leaders and activists have endured the most severe political persecution in recent years.

He made these remarks on Tuesday afternoon, while addressing an extended meeting of the Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila and Ruhea Thana BNP units as the chief guest at the Thakurgaon District Shilpakala Academy auditorium.

The senior BNP leader claimed that the party’s workers have faced unprecedented oppression during what he termed the 16-year ‘dictatorial’ rule of Sheikh Hasina. Providing statistics, he asserted that nearly 6 million leaders and activists have been targeted with ‘false’ cases. Furthermore, he alleged that 20,000 workers have been ‘killed’ and 1,700, including three sitting MPs, have been ‘forcibly disappeared’ (gums).

He observed: “Our political activists can, at least, sleep peacefully at night now.”

Fakhrul mentioned that numerous party workers in Thakurgaon have spent long periods in prison and been convicted in false cases over the last 15 years. He expressed gratitude to the lawyers for providing crucial legal assistance during this period.

On the subject of a nationwide referendum (or plebiscite), Mirza Fakhrul disclosed that the BNP has proposed to the National Consensus Commission that the national election and the referendum be held simultaneously on the same day. The meeting was chaired by Thakurgaon District BNP President Mirza Faisal Amin.

Among the other attendees were District BNP General Secretary Paygam Ali, Municipal BNP President Shariful Islam Sharif, Sadar BNP President Abdul Hamid, Ruhea Thana BNP President Abdul Jabbar, and other local leaders from the BNP and its affiliated bodies.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami has formed a special team to spread false propaganda using digital technology. Speaking at a discussion marking the founding anniversary of the BNP-affiliated Olama Dal at the National Press Club on Tuesday, Rizvi said: “Jamaat is conducting misleading campaigns using digital platforms. They have formed a group of young individuals to spread lies, offensive remarks, and vulgar content on social media. These people are packaging falsehoods and spreading them regularly.”

He further said: “Claiming that voting can lead to heaven is a deception. Jamaat is trying to impose PR (proportional representation) out of frustration and is conspiring to disrupt the election. Ordinary people are not familiar with PR.”

Rizvi also remarked: “Those calling for a referendum in November have a master plan. Through certain conditions, they aim to confuse the public and delay the national election.”

He accused Jamaat of trying to remain under the shadow of the Awami League, saying: “Their political maneuvering shows they are trying to draw votes away from the Awami League. On one hand, they are creating debate over PR, reforms, and referendums; on the other hand, they are manipulating religious sentiments.”

He warned about the spread of a misleading ideology under the guise of a new Islamic trend in Bangladesh, saying: “This can be identified as ‘Maududism.’ The people of Bangladesh will never accept it. There is no place for such ideology in our faith, beliefs, and unity in monotheism.”

Referring to the events of 1971, Rizvi said: “Those who committed horrific acts during the Liberation War were also Muslims. But how can one Muslim inflict such atrocities on another? Those who supported or are still supporting such crimes—can they be called good people? Using religion as a tool to mislead the public and justifying any means for power is not supported by Islam.”

New York — Democratic candidate for New York City Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has become one of the most talked-about figures in city politics ahead of the upcoming election. Calling for unity among Bangladeshi expatriates, Mamdani urged everyone to stay focused and resist misinformation campaigns.

“The upcoming November 4 election will make history,” said Mamdani. “We must not be distracted by confusion or propaganda. Only through unity can we win this battle at the ballot box.”

The remarks came on Monday evening at a community gathering jointly organized by the Jackson Heights Bangladeshi Business Association (JBBA) and Bangladeshis for Zohran at the Sanai Party Hall in Jackson Heights.

Mamdani reminded attendees of his earlier electoral success, “We defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s son by a 13-point margin. Yet, he remains in the race as an independent. His goal is to block our progress, but together, we will achieve our mission.”

He further said, “Our vision is to make New York City a livable city for everyone. In this world’s most expensive metropolis, we must ensure fair opportunities for all — especially for hardworking immigrants.”

As the first Muslim candidate in New York City’s history, Mamdani emphasized the importance of collective action, “To turn this city into a city of dreams, we must stay united. Muslim and South Asian voters must come out and vote in large numbers.”

The event began with a welcome address from Abdus Sobhan, member-secretary of Bangladeshis for Zohran. JBBA President Giyas Ahmed presided over the meeting, which also featured speeches from Shahnewaz, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bangladesh Society; Imam Shamsi Ali, Director of Jamaica Muslim Center; Fakrul Islam Delwar, founding president of the Jamaica Bangladesh Friends Society; and Tarek Hasan Khan, General Secretary of JBBA.

In the upcoming election, 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani faces his main rival, 67-year-old independent candidate Andrew Cuomo. Political observers suggest that current Democratic Mayor Eric Adams withdrew from the re-election race following a request from former President Donald Trump. Trump has labeled Mamdani a “socialist Democrat,” warning that if he wins, New York City could lose federal benefits.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Adams stepped aside amid corruption investigations, allegedly hoping for a presidential pardon from Trump. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa is also being urged to withdraw from the race, as mounting political pressure from Trump’s camp seeks to prevent Mamdani’s victory by any means.

New York City has nearly 200,000 registered Muslim voters and over 300,000 South Asian voters. Mamdani, who was born in Uganda in 1991, is gaining growing support from African-American, Hispanic, and young voters, according to immigrant community leaders.

In contrast, Andrew Cuomo has been accused of attempting to create divisions between Muslim and Hindu communities, campaigning in mosques and temples while emphasizing his experience.

Zohran Mamdani was born on October 18, 1991, in Uganda to a Muslim father, Mahmood Mamdani, originally from Gujarat, India, and a Punjabi Hindu mother, filmmaker Mira Nair. When he was five, the family moved to South Africa, and two years later, they immigrated to the United States.