The former Prime Minister of Bangladesh plans to return home
Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, is expected to return to her home country once the interim government decides on the election date, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy announced on August 8. However, it remains unclear whether she intends to run for office again.
“My mother is currently in India. She will return to Bangladesh as soon as the interim government announces the election,” Joy stated. Despite confirming her return, Joy did not disclose the purpose of her homecoming or whether she plans to participate in the upcoming elections. “My mother has always intended to retire after this term,” said Joy, who currently resides in the United States.
Hasina, 76, has been at the helm of Bangladesh since 2009. On August 5, she resigned from her position and left the country for India via helicopter. The interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, 84, was sworn in on August 8. This government will be responsible for organizing the elections. Notably, Hasina’s Awami League party is not part of the interim government.
Joy has indicated that he would not hesitate to enter the political arena if necessary. “I am confident that the Awami League will participate in the election, and we may even secure a victory,” he stated.
Reports suggest that Hasina is currently in the New Delhi area. Indian media has speculated that she might seek asylum in the United Kingdom, although the UK Home Office has declined to comment on these reports.
On August 8, the Indian Foreign Minister confirmed discussions with his British counterpart regarding the situation in Bangladesh, but specific details were not disclosed.
Bangladesh has been engulfed in violent protests over the past month, with students and young people taking to the streets to oppose the government’s civil service quota allocation, which favors the descendants of war veterans. The Bangladesh Supreme Court reduced the quota for veterans’ descendants, but this action failed to quell the unrest. The protests have resulted in over 400 deaths and thousands of injuries.
Following Hasina’s resignation and departure, Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved parliament the next day, paving the way for a general election
