'My mother never officially resigned,' claims Sheikh Hasina's son
Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has claimed that his mother fled the country without officially resigning. Hasina fled the country following weeks of violent anti-government protests in Bangladesh over a controversial quota system for government jobs. The protests spiraled into clashes between demonstrators and security forces, resulting in nearly 300 deaths and hunders of injuries.
Hasina fled to India as protesters neared her residence
As protesters approached her official residence in Dhaka on August 5, Hasina escaped to India on a military aircraft without having time to pack or formally resign. A caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has since assumed power. Joy, speaking from his home in the United States, told Reuters that his mother "didn't get the time" to officially resign. "As far as the constitution goes, she is still the prime minister of Bangladesh," he said.
Wazed questions legality of caretaker government, calls for elections
Wazed argued that the establishment of a caretaker government without Hasina's formal resignation "can be challenged in court." He expressed confidence that the Awami League, his mother's party, would participate in the next election, which he believes should be held within three months. Wazed also indicated a willingness to cooperate with the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to ensure free and fair elections.
Wazed refutes reports of Hasina seeking asylum
Regarding reports that Hasina was seeking asylum in a third country, Joy insisted that his 76-year-old would return to Bangladesh soon. He clarified in an interview with AajTak Bangla that his mother had not applied for asylum anywhere and intended to return to Bangladesh soon, addinge she had done nothing wrong. Wazed also expressed gratitude to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing shelter when Hasina arrived from Dhaka at the Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad.
