Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has alleged that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has become a “puppet of the US Embassy” and that its acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, is effectively being held hostage by Washington.
Speaking at a public event, Joy said Bangladesh is currently undergoing a dangerous political transition marked by foreign interference, Islamist influence, and the systematic exclusion of progressive political forces from the electoral process.
Referring to the student-led quota reform protests, Joy acknowledged that the original demands were legitimate and that the quota system was outdated. However, he said the government’s failure lay in poor communication, as the quotas had already been abolished earlier and later reinstated by a court ruling. According to him, the situation escalated when Islamist groups and violent elements hijacked the movement, leading to widespread unrest.
Joy rejected allegations that the Awami League government initiated violence, claiming instead that armed extremists attacked police stations and law enforcement personnel. He said audio recordings submitted to court prove that militant attacks preceded the escalation. “All deaths were tragic,” he added, “but the violence was not started by the government.”
He strongly criticized the current interim administration, calling it “unelected and without a mandate,” and accused it of releasing convicted militants, including those involved in the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack and other terror-related crimes. Joy alleged that the government is dependent on Islamist and extremist support, effectively turning Bangladesh into an Islamist-led state.
According to Joy, mob violence has been normalized under the current administration, with attacks on political opponents, journalists, judges, and media houses. He cited arson attacks on major media outlets, including Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, as evidence of shrinking civic space and intimidation of dissent.
Turning to the upcoming election, Joy warned that it is being engineered to exclude the Awami League and other progressive parties. He described the political contest as a “two-horse race” between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, claiming that opposition parties have been systematically suppressed through arrests, attacks, and restrictions on political activity.
Joy also questioned the credibility of international reports on post-protest violence, alleging that deaths occurring after the Awami League left office were unfairly attributed to his party. He said the previous government had initiated judicial investigations into all killings, regardless of political affiliation, while the current administration has granted immunity to perpetrators under the guise of “mob justice.”
Addressing foreign influence, Joy claimed that the United States is backing BNP and Tarique Rahman because it holds extensive corruption-related evidence against him. He alleged that Washington is using this leverage to force BNP’s support for a proposed referendum aimed at weakening executive power and ensuring the formation of weak coalition governments.
“The sudden U-turn by BNP in favor of the referendum reflects direct pressure from the US State Department,” Joy claimed. “A weak, externally controlled government serves foreign interests.”
Joy further raised concerns over the introduction of postal voting, alleging large-scale fraud, particularly among overseas voters. He claimed videos circulating online show ballots being filled in bulk in favor of Jamaat-e-Islami and the referendum, without transparency or oversight.
He warned that the exclusion of the Awami League is intended to artificially boost Jamaat-e-Islami’s political influence, despite its historically limited vote share. Joy accused Jamaat of pursuing the establishment of a Sharia-based state and claimed that extremist groups, including known international militants, are now operating openly in Bangladesh.
Calling on the international community, Joy urged immediate condemnation of the election process, arguing that it fails to meet basic standards of fairness and inclusivity.
“This is not an election; it is a staged political drama,” he said. “If the international community remains silent, Bangladesh risks falling into a period of weak foreign-controlled governance and rising extremism.”
Concluding his remarks, Joy asserted that the Awami League retains a strong voter base and remains committed to secularism, minority protection, and counterterrorism. He warned that the next five to ten years would be critical for Bangladesh’s stability, security, and democratic future.
“Allow all parties to participate, and let the people decide,” he said. “If the Awami League loses at the ballot box, so be it. But banning participation out of fear is not democracy.”
