Sajeeb Wazed, the son of Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, expressed his satisfaction with the army chief's announcement of a timeline for elections within 18 months, even though it is later than anticipated. However, he emphasized that genuine reforms and elections cannot occur without the participation of his mother's party.
General Waker-uz-Zaman, who previously declined to support Hasina during violent student protests that led to her fleeing to India in August, stated to Reuters that democracy should be restored within a year to a year-and-a-half.
“I’m glad we have an expected timeline now,” Wazed stated to Reuters late on Tuesday. However, he cautioned that history has shown unconstitutional, unelected governments often promise reforms, which only result in worsening conditions.
He referenced Bangladesh's history of military coups since gaining independence from Pakistan in 1971, with the latest occurring in 2007 when the military supported a caretaker government until Hasina returned to power two years later for a 15-year term.
After Hasina's departure, the military played a crucial role in stabilizing the situation, with Zaman indicating that he meets weekly with the head of the interim government to support its stability efforts.
The two leading political parties, Hasina's Awami League and its rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have both advocated for elections to occur within three months of the interim government taking office in August.
The unelected interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has promised reforms in the judiciary, police, and financial institutions before holding elections, although a specific date has not been established.
On Wednesday, Yunus's office announced that the government would engage with political parties after receiving recommendations from the six reform panels it has created. “Once a consensus on the reforms is achieved and the voter list is prepared, the election date will be announced,” the statement noted.
The BNP expressed its desire for elections to be held as soon as possible.
Wazed, who resides in Washington, mentioned that neither he nor the interim government has initiated discussions on the country's future. “It’s impossible to have legitimate reforms and elections without including the oldest and largest political party,” he asserted.
Since fleeing to Delhi last month, Hasina has been in hiding, while numerous senior Awami League leaders have been arrested on charges related to the unrest that resulted in over 1,000 deaths, with many party activists also killed, according to Wazed.
Representatives from the interim government did not respond promptly to requests for comments regarding his statements.
Badiul Alam Majumder, chair of an election reform panel, stated that recommendations would be made within three months following a review. “It’s up to the government to decide whether to engage in talks with the Awami League or determine the timing of the elections,” he added.
Last month, Wazed indicated that Hasina was prepared to face trial in Bangladesh, a demand made by the student leaders of the uprising, and that the Awami League is eager to participate in the elections.
When asked on Tuesday about Hasina's potential return to the country, he remarked, “That will depend on her. For now, I want to ensure the safety of my party members and raise international awareness about the atrocities being committed against them by this Yunus regime.”
The history of military coups and unstable governments in Bangladesh raises valid concerns about the legitimacy of any upcoming elections. The interim government's commitment to reforms in the judiciary, police, and financial institutions is a step forward, but the effectiveness of these reforms remains to be seen, especially if key political players, like the Awami League, are excluded from the process.
Sajeeb Wazed, the son of Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, expressed his satisfaction with the army chief's announcement of a timeline for elections within 18 months, even though it is later than anticipated. However, he emphasized that genuine reforms and elections cannot occur without the participation of his mother's party.
General Waker-uz-Zaman, who previously declined to support Hasina during violent student protests that led to her fleeing to India in August, stated to Reuters that democracy should be restored within a year to a year-and-a-half.
“I’m glad we have an expected timeline now,” Wazed stated to Reuters late on Tuesday. However, he cautioned that history has shown unconstitutional, unelected governments often promise reforms, which only result in worsening conditions.
He referenced Bangladesh's history of military coups since gaining independence from Pakistan in 1971, with the latest occurring in 2007 when the military supported a caretaker government until Hasina returned to power two years later for a 15-year term.
After Hasina's departure, the military played a crucial role in stabilizing the situation, with Zaman indicating that he meets weekly with the head of the interim government to support its stability efforts.
The two leading political parties, Hasina's Awami League and its rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have both advocated for elections to occur within three months of the interim government taking office in August.
The unelected interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has promised reforms in the judiciary, police, and financial institutions before holding elections, although a specific date has not been established.
On Wednesday, Yunus's office announced that the government would engage with political parties after receiving recommendations from the six reform panels it has created. “Once a consensus on the reforms is achieved and the voter list is prepared, the election date will be announced,” the statement noted.
The BNP expressed its desire for elections to be held as soon as possible.
Wazed, who resides in Washington, mentioned that neither he nor the interim government has initiated discussions on the country's future. “It’s impossible to have legitimate reforms and elections without including the oldest and largest political party,” he asserted.
Since fleeing to Delhi last month, Hasina has been in hiding, while numerous senior Awami League leaders have been arrested on charges related to the unrest that resulted in over 1,000 deaths, with many party activists also killed, according to Wazed.
Representatives from the interim government did not respond promptly to requests for comments regarding his statements.
Badiul Alam Majumder, chair of an election reform panel, stated that recommendations would be made within three months following a review. “It’s up to the government to decide whether to engage in talks with the Awami League or determine the timing of the elections,” he added.
Last month, Wazed indicated that Hasina was prepared to face trial in Bangladesh, a demand made by the student leaders of the uprising, and that the Awami League is eager to participate in the elections.
When asked on Tuesday about Hasina's potential return to the country, he remarked, “That will depend on her. For now, I want to ensure the safety of my party members and raise international awareness about the atrocities being committed against them by this Yunus regime.”
Wazed welcomes the election timeline but stresses that real reforms and fair elections can't happen without the Awami League’s involvement. He warns of past failures under unelected governments and calls for international awareness of the current crackdown on his party.