Mon Nov 17 03:10:59 UTC 2025: Summary:
The son of ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sajeeb Wazed, has warned that supporters of the Awami League will disrupt the upcoming national election in February if the party’s ban isn’t lifted. This comes as a Dhaka court is expected to convict Hasina in absentia on charges related to a deadly crackdown on student protests in 2024. Wazed, currently in Washington, DC, stated that his mother, exiled in India, is safe and receiving full security. He anticipates a death sentence for Hasina, which he considers politically motivated. He asserts that Awami League will protest increasingly and that violence may erupt if the international community does not intervene. Political tensions are high in Bangladesh, with recent explosions and tightened security measures.
News Article:
Hasina’s Son Threatens Disruption if Party Ban Remains, Warns of Violence Ahead of Bangladesh Election
Dhaka, Bangladesh – Sajeeb Wazed, son and advisor to ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has issued a stark warning: supporters of the Awami League will block the upcoming national election in February if the party’s ban isn’t lifted. The threat comes as a Dhaka court prepares to deliver a verdict expected to convict Hasina in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity related to a deadly crackdown on student-led protests in 2024.
Speaking to Reuters from Washington, DC, where he resides, Wazed accused the proceedings against his mother of being a “politically motivated charade.” He stated that India is providing her full security and treating her like a head of state after she fled to Delhi. Wazed anticipates a death sentence and said they would not appeal it unless a democratically elected government took office with the Awami League’s participation.
“We will not allow elections without the Awami League to go ahead,” Wazed declared. “Our protests are going to get stronger and stronger, and we will do whatever it takes.” He further warned that, “unless the international community does something, eventually there’s probably going to be violence in Bangladesh before these elections… there’s going to be confrontations.”
The Awami League’s registration was suspended in May after the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, banned its political activities, citing national security threats and war crime investigations.
Political tensions are already high in Dhaka, with a surge in violence, including multiple crude bomb explosions and buses torched. Authorities have tightened security, deploying additional forces and restricting public gatherings.
Hasina, who previously secured four consecutive terms as Prime Minister, is accused of rights abuses and crushing dissent. Her son claims that she is determined to “fight back by whatever means necessary.”