International Desk, August 10, 2024 — Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has voiced concerns over possible foreign interference in the recent protests that have rocked Bangladesh. In an interview with ANI, Joy suggested that the unrest was not merely a domestic uprising but rather a strategic effort potentially orchestrated by external forces, notably Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Joy criticized the portrayal of the protests, claiming that they were driven by a deliberate distortion of his mother’s statements. He noted that the demonstrations persisted despite the fact that the quota system, which originally sparked the unrest, had been removed by the government in 2018 following similar protests. The system was later reinstated by a court ruling, not by government action, he clarified.
The escalation of protests, according to Joy, was further fueled by a misrepresentation of Sheikh Hasina’s comments on Razakars, leading to widespread unrest. He also raised concerns about the presence of weapons among the protesters, arguing that this indicated a premeditated plot rather than a grassroots movement.
Reflecting on the height of the protests, Joy defended his mother’s decision to vacate her residence, emphasizing her concern for the safety of the students involved. He revealed that Sheikh Hasina chose to leave despite her security forces being prepared to defend the residence, in order to avoid what could have been a deadly confrontation.
“My mother chose to leave her heavily guarded residence to prevent what could have been a massacre. The protesters, had they marched in large numbers, might have been met with lethal force, leading to significant loss of life. Her departure was a deliberate act to protect the students,” Joy stated, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the measures Sheikh Hasina took to prevent bloodshed.
As Bangladesh grapples with the ongoing crisis, Joy’s statements have added a new dimension to the narrative, raising questions about the potential involvement of foreign actors in the country’s internal affairs.
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