3 weeks ago
Sheikh Hasina's Son Warns Bangladesh Is Now India's 'Eastern Pakistan'
Sajeeb Wazed is the son of Sheikh Hasina, who used to be the leader of Bangladesh.
Hasina had to leave Bangladesh in August 2024 after big student protests, and she has stayed in India since then.
Sajeeb talked to reporters in New Delhi, the capital of India, using a video call from Maryland in the United States.
He warned that Bangladesh has become like 'another Pakistan' on India's eastern side, and said foreign spies such as Pakistan's ISI are very active there.
He also asked why the United Nations says about 1,400 people died in the 2024 protests while the old government said about 800.
He said a special law called the Indemnity Bill gave all protesters a free pass, so nobody could be punished for hurting or killing people, even police officers.
He added that many people from his mother's party are in jail without a fair trial, and some have died while in police custody.
India's government said it had nothing to do with Sajeeb's talk, which was organised by a private media group.
He spoke just before his mother, Sheikh Hasina, was due to give her own speech in New Delhi.
Sajeeb Wazed, son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, warned that Bangladesh has become 'another Pakistan' on India's eastern front, with foreign intelligence agencies such as Pakistan's ISI operating with an 'open hand.'
Wazed disputed the July-August 2024 protest death toll, contrasting the United Nations' figure of about 1,400 deaths with the previous Yunus-led government's count of '800-something,' and said the UN has not provided names.
He criticised the Indemnity Bill brought in under Muhammad Yunus's interim administration, saying it grants protesters blanket immunity from prosecution for killings, including of civilians, Awami League members and police officers, and was later ratified into law by the BNP government.
Wazed alleged that tens of thousands of people, many of them Awami League members and leaders, have been jailed since August 2024 without trial, due process or bail, with some dying in police custody.
India's Ministry of External Affairs responded that the government has no involvement in the press conference, which is organised by a private media entity, and endorses no views expressed there.
- Who
- Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, speaking virtually from Maryland, US; India's MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also responded.
- What
- Wazed warned that Bangladesh has become 'another Pakistan' on India's eastern front, questioned the July-August 2024 protest death toll, and criticised the Indemnity Bill and the jailing of Awami League members without trial.
- Where
- New Delhi, India, at an event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) of South Asia; Wazed appeared virtually from Maryland, United States.
- When
- Wednesday, August 5, 2026, ahead of Sheikh Hasina's virtual address in New Delhi.
- Why
- Wazed sought to highlight security risks for India, alleged the free operation of foreign intelligence such as Pakistan's ISI in Bangladesh, and raised human rights concerns over the treatment of Awami League members since Hasina's ouster.
Wazed and supporters of Sheikh Hasina
United Nations, Bangladesh governments, and India's MEA
Protest death toll
Wazed and supporters of Sheikh Hasina
Wazed says the UN's figure of about 1,400 deaths inflates the count because the UN has not provided names, and it only covered deaths up to August 15, 2024, though violence continued beyond that date.
United Nations, Bangladesh governments, and India's MEA
The UN cited around 1,400 deaths from the July-August 2024 protests while the previous Yunus-led government's figure was roughly 800.
Indemnity Bill
Wazed and supporters of Sheikh Hasina
Wazed condemns the Indemnity Bill as unprecedented and completely against human rights, saying it gives protesters blanket immunity from prosecution for killings of civilians, Awami League members and police officers.
United Nations, Bangladesh governments, and India's MEA
The ordinance was introduced under Muhammad Yunus's interim administration and later ratified into law by the current BNP government, meaning police killings from the unrest cannot be prosecuted.
Hasina's remarks and Bangladesh's reaction
Wazed and supporters of Sheikh Hasina
Wazed warned that Bangladesh risks becoming 'another Pakistan' on India's eastern front, with foreign intelligence agencies such as Pakistan's ISI operating freely and militant groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir holding public marches.
United Nations, Bangladesh governments, and India's MEA
The Bangladesh government expressed outrage, stating that Sheikh Hasina's comments during the press conference in New Delhi were an affront to the nation and reflected a denial of established facts regarding the July-August 2024 killings.
Key facts
- Key figure
- Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
- Reported date
- Wednesday, August 5, 2026 (per ANI tweet)
- Location
- New Delhi, India - Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) of South Asia event; Wazed joined virtually from Maryland
- Death toll dispute
- UN: ~1,400 vs previous Yunus-led government: '800-something' (July-August 2024 protests)
- Indemnity Bill
- Introduced under Muhammad Yunus's interim administration; later ratified into law by the BNP government, per Wazed
- Detentions alleged
- Tens of thousands jailed since August 2024, many Awami League members and leaders, without trial or bail
- Hasina's ouster
- August 5, 2024, after student-led protests; she has stayed in India since
- India's position
- MEA: government has no involvement in or endorsement of the press conference
Quotes
Sajeeb Wazed Joy
Son of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister, political commentator
“What should concern India most is that Bangladesh risks becoming another Pakistan on India’s eastern front. Today, India faces another potential security challenge along its eastern border.”
livemint.com
“"Bangladesh has become another Pakistan on India's eastern front."”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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