Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has expressed surprise and raised concerns over the outcome of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election, questioning both the credibility and competitiveness of the polls.
In an interview with the UK-based broadcaster BBC on its NewsHour programme, Sajeeb Wazed Joy said it was “unbelievable” that the Jatiya Party failed to secure a single seat in the election.
Joy argued that one of the country’s oldest and largest political parties had been barred from participating in the polls. He also claimed that although some progressive parties were not formally banned, they were prevented from holding rallies, and many of their leaders were imprisoned.
“It is unbelievable that the third-largest political party received no seats,” Joy said, referring to the Jatiya Party’s performance.
He further questioned the performance of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, which reportedly secured around 80 seats. According to Joy, Jamaat typically wins no more than five to ten seats in past elections, suggesting that the latest result does not reflect a competitive electoral environment.
When asked whether the Bangladesh Awami League would be willing to engage in dialogue with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to facilitate its return to mainstream politics, Joy said his party was ready to hold discussions with all stakeholders.
He compared the Awami League and BNP to the UK’s Conservative Party and Labour Party, stating that Bangladesh’s politics cannot be imagined without these two major parties.
Joy also claimed that the Awami League continues to command around 40 percent of the vote, while the Jatiya Party holds between five and ten percent support, arguing that these parties cannot be ignored indefinitely.
Commenting on the overall election environment, Joy said, “Yes, perhaps everyone is happy that an election has been held. Let the honeymoon period end, then we will see.”
His remarks have sparked renewed debate in political circles, particularly over the Jatiya Party’s failure to win any seats and Jamaat’s significant electoral gains.
