‘India saved my mother’s life’: Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed slams Bangladesh’s extradition request

Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has sharply criticised Bangladesh’s attempt to seek his mother’s extradition from India, calling the legal process in Dhaka fundamentally flawed. Speaking to news agency ANI, Wazed also warned that India faces an escalating threat from terror groups operating freely across the border after the change in government.

Wazed has been living abroad since his mother was flown to India in August 2024. Describing the circumstances around her departure, he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for granting her safe passage, claiming militants had been preparing to attack her.

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“India has essentially saved my mother’s life. If she hadn’t left Bangladesh, the militants had planned on killing her,” he said.

Also Read: Govt backed by Islamists will never understand relationship with India: Awami League

‘No due process’: Why Sajeeb Wazed says Bangladesh’s extradition bid is illegal

In the interview, Wazed categorically dismissed the legitimacy of Dhaka’s extradition request, arguing that the judicial system has been manipulated.

“They terminated 17 judges before the trial, amended laws illegally without parliamentary approval, and barred her defence attorneys from court proceedings,” he told ANI.

“When there is no due process whatsoever, no country is going to extradite.”

He added that he is confident Indian authorities will reject the request because, in his view, Bangladesh has failed to follow basic legal norms.

The former prime minister faces multiple cases filed after her ouster, but Wazed insists that the proceedings cannot be considered fair under the interim administration.

Wazed links Bangladesh’s political crisis to rising terror threat for India

Wazed claimed the political upheaval in Bangladesh has allowed extremist networks to regroup. According to him, the interim government has released “tens of thousands of terrorists” convicted under his mother’s administration.

He alleged that Lashkar-e-Taiba is operating within Bangladesh, connecting its activities to recent terror incidents in Delhi.

“I think Prime Minister Modi is probably very, very concerned about terrorism from Bangladesh,” he said.

Hasina’s son calls July 2024 unrest a ‘political coup’, not a mass uprising

Wazed acknowledged errors in handling the early phase of the July 2024 protests but insisted that what followed was not a popular uprising.

He described the subsequent developments as a coordinated “political coup,” arguing that armed groups infiltrated the protests.

He went a step further, alleging direct foreign involvement.

Pakistan’s ISI supplied weapons during Bangladesh protests, claims Wazed

On Pakistan’s role, he said: “Without a doubt, these weapons had to have been supplied from somewhere in the subcontinent and the only possible source is ISI.”

Wazed cites Trump’s remarks on alleged US role in Bangladesh regime change

Wazed also referred to remarks reportedly made by Donald Trump, saying: “millions of dollars on regime change in Bangladesh” were channelled through USAID. He stopped short of confirming any contact with current American officials but suggested the Trump administration appeared “more concerned about the threat of terrorism and the rise of Islamism in Bangladesh.”

‘Tens of thousands detained’: Wazed alleges mass arrests under Yunus govt

According to Wazed, the interim setup led by Muhammad Yunus continues to detain “tens of thousands of political prisoners,” including more than 100 former parliamentarians.

“You’ve had an unelected government staying in power for over a year and a half. Everything has been done undemocratically,” he said.

He questioned Yunus’ popularity, pointing out polling numbers in which the student movement’s political party secured just two per cent support.

“If Muhammad Yunus was popular, then why would he not have held one election and then run the country with legitimacy?” he asked.

Wazed rejects corruption charges, highlights Bangladesh’s economic growth

On corruption allegations, Wazed said, “Corruption existed in Bangladesh, of course,” but argued that the country’s progress under Sheikh Hasina shows it wasn’t systemic.

Bangladesh, he said, improved significantly in global corruption rankings and advanced from least developed country status to being seen as a potential “Asian tiger.”

“This level of development and economic growth would not have been possible with major corruption,” he added.

Interim government in Dhaka yet to respond to Wazed’s allegations

The interim government in Bangladesh has not addressed Wazed’s claims regarding judicial processes, alleged releases of convicted extremists, or the number of political detainees.