Bangladesh Crisis Sajeeb Wazed Joy Blames Foreign Interference and ISI

Grave Concerns Voiced by Sajeeb Wazed Joy

In an exclusive interview with ABP News on Tuesday, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, expressed serious concerns over the escalating unrest in Bangladesh. Joy attributed the turmoil to foreign interference, specifically pointing fingers at Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. He painted a grim picture of the current situation, stating, “The situation in the country is very poor, with rampant looting across the nation. Many of our MPs have been attacked, and our ministers’ homes have been set on fire. The Bangabandhu Memorial Museum has been destroyed, and now there are attacks on Hindu temples.”

ABP News Exclusive Sheikh Hasina Son Sajeeb Wazed Joy Suspects ISI Involvement In Bangladesh Crisis United States India Pakistan ISI Behind Bangladesh Crisis, China Never Involved In Our Internal Affairs: Sheikh Hasina

Allegations of Foreign Involvement

Joy hinted at foreign involvement in the violent protests engulfing the nation. He recounted an incident during the quota protests where slogans similar to “I am Nazi I am Nazi” were chanted, suggesting an escalation by external forces. “I feel certain that there is some foreign force behind this. When the quota protests were happening, our government conceded to their demands. But one night, when slogans like ‘Hum Razakar Hum Razakar’ were being chanted at a university, the conflict escalated. I suspect someone has escalated the situation,” he remarked.

No Decision on Relocation to London

Addressing rumors about the potential relocation of Sheikh Hasina to London, Joy clarified, “There is no decision on that yet.”

Scepticism on Interim Government’s Effectiveness

Joy expressed doubt over any improvement following the formation of an interim government. He noted the inability of the police to manage the situation, questioning how any government could control it. “I don’t think the situation will improve. Protesters have attacked the police, and the police are unable to act effectively. If the police cannot manage the situation, how can any government control it?”

Accusations Against ISI

Joy did not hold back in accusing the ISI of being involved in the unrest. He asserted, “I believe the ISI is involved because when the movement was underway, there was an armed attack on the police. Students do not have firearms; these weapons are with Jamaat-e-Islami Shibir. Someone must have provided them with these arms, and it is certainly the ISI.” He dismissed any Chinese involvement, stating, “There is no Chinese hand in this. China has never been involved in our internal affairs.”

Veiled Dig at the United States

Drawing a parallel with the 2022 Sri Lankan crisis, Joy suggested that certain countries prefer weak governments in the region for easier control, indirectly referencing the United States. He remarked, “Of course, some countries do not want a strong government in our region. They prefer a weak government to control it.”

The Biden administration had previously criticized Bangladesh’s democracy and questioned the fairness of the January elections, stating, “The United States shares the view with other observers that these elections were not free or fair and we regret that not all parties participated.”

Destruction of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Statue

Joy pointed fingers at the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami for the destruction of a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhaka, stating, “The BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, who opposed Bangladesh’s independence, are likely responsible for this.”

Struggle to Control the Situation

Admitting the difficulty in managing the crisis, Joy emphasized that only Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League could handle the situation, but even they are struggling. “The situation is out of control, and only Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League could manage it. However, controlling it now seems impossible.”

Reflection on Government’s Response

Reflecting on whether the government failed to assess the situation, Joy explained, “Students were in front of us, and we did not want to shoot them, so we instructed the police and army not to fire. However, the students turned into a mob. Our government was not weak, but my mother said she did not want to harm the students and would let them go.”

Call for Stronger Action from India

Commenting on the state of democracy in the Indian subcontinent, Joy called for stronger action from India, expressing concern over the situations in Pakistan and Afghanistan. “It is very worrying for our subcontinent. The Indian government should take stronger action and increase international pressure.”

Context of the Unrest

The unrest in Bangladesh, which began with protests against a job quota system, has evolved into a broader movement demanding the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. The Awami League retained power in the January parliamentary elections, which were boycotted by opposition parties. On Monday, Sheikh Hasina left her official Dhaka residence, indicating the severity of the crisis.