Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a senior Awami League leader, has claimed that Bangladesh is moving towards becoming “another Pakistan” and warned that the country’s current situation poses security concerns for India and the wider region.

Speaking virtually from Maryland, United States, during an event at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in New Delhi on Wednesday, Joy alleged that Bangladesh has descended into a “failed state” following recent political developments.

Joy alleges rise in extremist activity

Joy claimed that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is operating with “an open hand” in Bangladesh. He further alleged that hundreds of convicted terrorists who had been imprisoned during the Awami League’s tenure have since been released.

According to Joy, banned organisations such as Hizb ut-Tahrir are now holding public marches, while individuals linked to al-Qaeda have addressed public gatherings.

He argued that these developments should be a major concern for India, saying Bangladesh has effectively become “another Pakistan” on India’s eastern border. Joy also warned that the country could emerge as a future hub for global terrorism if the situation remains unchecked.

He appealed to Indian media organisations to continue highlighting developments in Bangladesh rather than treating them as isolated news events.

Political developments after Bangladesh elections

Joy’s remarks came around six months after Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections, in which the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, secured a majority and formed the government following the end of Muhammad Yunus’s interim administration.

He argued that the electoral process could not be considered fully representative because the Awami League had been barred from political activity and prevented from contesting the polls during the caretaker administration.

Joy questions protest death figures

Joy also questioned the reported death toll from the July-August 2024 protests that resulted in Sheikh Hasina’s removal from office.

He pointed to differences between the United Nations’ estimate of around 1,400 deaths and the Bangladeshi government’s figure of about 800, claiming that repeated requests by Awami League lawyers seeking details behind the higher estimate had not received a response.

He also criticised an “Indemnity Bill”, which he said was introduced during the Yunus administration and later ratified by the BNP government. According to Joy, the law grants immunity to protesters, including in cases involving the deaths of police personnel, civilians and Awami League supporters.

Allegations over arrests, media freedom and economy

Joy alleged that thousands of Awami League leaders and supporters have remained in detention without trial or bail for extended periods, with some allegedly dying in custody. He also claimed that party workers continue to face targeted attacks without police intervention.

He further alleged that journalists, editors and media owners considered sympathetic to the Awami League have remained imprisoned for more than two years. Joy also claimed that intelligence officials attempted to discourage Indian media organisations from covering Wednesday’s event.

On the economic front, he warned that Bangladesh faces the risk of severe economic deterioration due to what he described as continued mismanagement and predicted that future elections would remain tilted in favour of the ruling party.

The statements made by Joy reflect the Awami League’s position on developments following Sheikh Hasina’s removal from office in August 2024 and have not been independently verified.

At the time of his remarks, the BNP-led government, Muhammad Yunus’s former interim administration and Bangladeshi authorities had not publicly responded to the specific allegations. They have, however, disputed the Awami League’s broader assessment of Bangladesh’s political situation.

A petrol bomb was thrown at the ancestral home of former Bangladesh cricket captain and former Awami League MP Shakib Al Hasan on Wednesday night, just hours after he appeared virtually at a press conference alongside former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The incident took place at Shakib Al Hasan’s family residence in the Keshabmor area of Magura town. According to the information provided, the property was also vandalised during the attack.

Attack follows Sheikh Hasina’s virtual address

The attack reportedly occurred at around 8:45 pm local time, shortly after Sheikh Hasina addressed a virtual press conference organised at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in New Delhi.

Following the incident, the Awami League issued a statement alleging that the attack was linked to Shakib Al Hasan’s participation in the press conference. The party also claimed that several political groups had publicly warned media organisations against reporting on the event.

The statement described the attack as a consequence of attending the press conference and accused opponents of carrying out a campaign against Awami League leaders and supporters.

Sheikh Hasina says she will return to Bangladesh

During her virtual address, Sheikh Hasina said she intended to return to Bangladesh in December despite the risks she claimed she could face.

“My return is not about power, it’s about putting Bangladesh back on track of development, secularism and prosperity,” she said.

The former prime minister also said she was prepared to face arrest or even death upon her return, adding that she wanted to be with the people of Bangladesh.

Hasina has been living in India since August 5, 2024, after leaving Bangladesh following the collapse of her government amid months of anti-government protests.

According to the information provided, a special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced her to death in absentia in November over alleged crimes against humanity related to the 2024 crackdown on student-led protests. Bangladesh has since sought her extradition from India.

Bangladesh had sought clarification from India

During the press conference, Sheikh Hasina appealed to the international community to support what she described as Bangladesh’s struggle for democracy and justice. She also alleged that organised groups had turned the 2024 protests into a violent political campaign.

Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and several Awami League leaders, including former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, also participated virtually.

The press conference had already attracted diplomatic attention, with Bangladesh reportedly seeking clarification from New Delhi earlier this week over Hasina’s decision to address the media from Indian territory.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has reportedly asked a broad group of military analysts to suggest “new creative and unconventional ways” to increase pressure on Iran, according to a media report. The unusual request, made through an internal email, reflects an effort to reassess Washington’s strategy as military operations continue without a breakthrough.

According to the report, an officer in CENTCOM’s intelligence branch initiated the brainstorming exercise last week, seeking fresh ideas from across the command on how to deal with Iran. Officials cited by the media described the crowdsourcing-style email as an uncommon approach within the US military.

Why CENTCOM is seeking new ideas

The report said the initiative comes as President Donald Trump faces limited and increasingly difficult options to push Iran towards an agreement on US terms. A source familiar with the discussions said CENTCOM is reviewing every possible option while acknowledging that its current strategy requires reassessment.

Responding to the report, CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Timothy Hawkins said the command has a long history of encouraging innovative thinking. He added that Admiral Cooper regularly seeks ideas from personnel across different ranks to improve operational performance.

Email came before Trump’s reported strike decision

The internal email was reportedly sent before Trump last week considered authorising new strikes on Iran. However, according to the report, those plans were dropped after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud urged the US president during a phone call to pursue de-escalation.

The United States has been carrying out air strikes against Iran for weeks with the stated aim of weakening Tehran’s ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and encouraging the country to return to negotiations. Despite the campaign, the report noted there has been no indication of a diplomatic breakthrough.

Military options remain limited

The report said US military planners have continued preparing options targeting Pickaxe Mountain and other Iranian sites believed to house nuclear-related material or equipment. However, sources familiar with the planning reportedly believe even America’s most powerful conventional weapons may not be sufficient because the facilities are located deep underground.

According to the report, destroying such sites could require a ground operation, a step Trump has been unwilling to approve because of the significant military risks involved.

The report also stated that at least 18 US service members have been killed during the fighting in the Middle East.

Trump reportedly looking for a symbolic outcome

With no decisive military victory in sight, Trump has reportedly lowered expectations and is considering limited strikes that could provide a symbolic success while allowing the United States to end the conflict, according to sources quoted in the report.

Such an approach would move away from one of the administration’s original objectives of eliminating Iran’s nuclear programme and would not necessarily resolve tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.

One source familiar with the planning discussions was quoted as saying that the US president ultimately wants a negotiated agreement and is continuing to explore ways to increase pressure while avoiding a prolonged conflict.

The report also noted that earlier assessments by both the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) concluded that the current bombing campaign is unlikely to significantly change Iran’s negotiating position. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine has also publicly acknowledged that air power alone is unlikely to achieve all of the administration’s stated objectives.