Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Bangladesh Is Becoming 'Another Pakistan', Warns Hasina's Son
Sheikh Hasina used to lead a country called Bangladesh, but she had to leave her country in 2024.
Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, spoke to reporters in India and said he is worried about what is happening in Bangladesh.
He said Bangladesh is becoming like another Pakistan on India's eastern side, and that this should concern India.
He said secret spy groups from Pakistan are now working openly in Bangladesh.
He also said dangerous people from a group called al-Qaeda are speaking at big public meetings.
He warned that many future terrorists could come from Bangladesh if things do not change.
Around the same time, Sheikh Hasina gave her first big speech since she left Bangladesh.
In the speech, she said the leader with an interim government, Muhammad Yunus, carefully planned to push her out of power.
She remembered her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and family members who were killed years ago, and her voice shook because she was so sad.
The Awami League is still banned from politics, and people disagree about whether the election was fair.
Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, warned that Bangladesh has 'become another Pakistan,' a development he said should concern India most.
The senior Awami League leader claimed foreign intelligence agencies, particularly Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), now operate with 'an open hand' in Bangladesh.
Joy said al-Qaeda operatives are speaking at public rallies in Bangladesh and warned that the next generation of global terrorists will come from Bangladesh unless this is stopped.
Sheikh Hasina delivered her first public address since being ousted and leaving Bangladesh in 2024, accusing Muhammad Yunus's interim administration of orchestrating a carefully planned campaign to remove her government.
The remarks come about six months after Bangladesh's parliamentary elections, in which the BNP, led by Tarique Rahman, won a decisive majority and formed a government after the end of Yunus's interim administration.
- Who
- Sajeeb Wazed Joy, a senior Awami League leader and son of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina; Sheikh Hasina, who addressed the public for the first time since leaving Bangladesh in 2024; and Muhammad Yunus, head of the interim administration she accused of orchestrating her removal.
- What
- Joy warned that Bangladesh has 'become another Pakistan' on India's eastern side, claiming Pakistan's ISI operates 'with an open hand' and that al-Qaeda operatives speak at public rallies, while Hasina gave her first public address blaming the interim government for her ouster.
- When
- Wednesday, August 5, 2026, about six months after Bangladesh's parliamentary elections.
- Where
- Joy spoke virtually from Maryland in the United States during an address at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in New Delhi, India.
- Why
- Joy says open foreign intelligence operations and militant activity in Bangladesh threaten India and the world, and he argues the election was not fully representative because the Awami League remains excluded from the political process.
Awami League / Ousted Government Side
BNP-Led Government / Interim Administration Side
Legitimacy of the election
Awami League / Ousted Government Side
The Awami League was banned from political activity and barred from contesting the election, so the vote cannot be considered fully representative.
BNP-Led Government / Interim Administration Side
The BNP, led by Tarique Rahman, won a decisive majority in the parliamentary elections and formed a government after Muhammad Yunus's interim administration ended.
Security situation in Bangladesh
Awami League / Ousted Government Side
Joy claims Bangladesh has become 'another Pakistan,' with Pakistan's ISI operating 'with an open hand' and al-Qaeda operatives speaking at public rallies, warning this does not portend well for India or the world.
BNP-Led Government / Interim Administration Side
Joy's warnings come roughly six months after an election in which the BNP won a decisive majority, a result the Awami League challenges while remaining excluded from politics.
- Speaker
- Sajeeb Wazed Joy, senior Awami League leader and son of Sheikh Hasina
- Date
- Wednesday, August 5, 2026
- Location
- Foreign Correspondents' Club, New Delhi; Joy spoke virtually from Maryland, US
- Key claim
- Bangladesh has 'become another Pakistan' on India's eastern side
- Intelligence claim
- Pakistan's ISI and other foreign agencies operate 'with an open hand' in Bangladesh
- Militancy claim
- Al-Qaeda operatives are speaking at public rallies in Bangladesh
- Election context
- BNP, led by Tarique Rahman, won a decisive majority about six months ago and formed a government
- Awami League status
- Banned from political activity and barred from contesting the election; remains excluded