Sajeeb Wazed, the son and adviser of ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has cautiously welcomed the army’s proposed timeline for elections, which is set to take place within 18 months. Although this timeline is later than expected, Wazed warned that genuine reforms and legitimate elections would not be possible without the involvement of Hasina’s political party, the Awami League.
Army Chief’s Election Timeline
General Waker-uz-Zaman, whose refusal to support Hasina during the violent student protests in August led to her fleeing to India, recently announced that democracy should return to Bangladesh within 12 to 18 months. In an interview with Reuters, Zaman indicated that the military remains involved, meeting with the head of the interim government weekly to ensure stability.
Wazed expressed cautious optimism: “I’m happy to hear we have an expected timeline at least now,” he said. However, he referenced Bangladesh’s history of military coups, suggesting that promises of reform under unelected governments often lead to more instability.
Political Parties Push for Early Elections
Both the Awami League and its rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), are urging for elections to be held within three months of the interim government’s establishment in August. The unelected government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has promised reforms in key sectors, such as the judiciary, police, and financial institutions, but has not yet provided a clear election date.
Yunus’ office stated that talks with political parties would follow after recommendations from six reform panels are completed, with a voter list being prepared before the election date is set.
Exclusion of Awami League from Reform Talks
Despite the announcement of reforms, Wazed criticized the interim government for excluding the Awami League from any discussions about the nation’s future. “It’s impossible to have legitimate reforms and elections by excluding the oldest and largest political party,” he said, pointing out that many Awami League leaders have been arrested or gone into hiding since Hasina fled.
Wazed, currently residing in Washington, emphasized the atrocities committed against Awami League members, adding that his focus now is to raise international awareness of the situation. He also noted that over 1,000 people have died due to the unrest following Hasina’s downfall, with many Awami League activists killed.
Next Steps and Reform Panels
The government has promised to hold talks with political parties after receiving recommendations from the reform panels, which are expected within three months. However, the BNP has called for elections at the earliest possible date.
The head of one of the reform panels, Badiul Alam Majumder, stated that the timing of the elections and whether to include the Awami League in discussions would ultimately be the government’s decision.
Wazed reiterated that his mother, Sheikh Hasina, is ready to face trial at home, a key demand of the student-led uprising. However, he noted that the timing of her return is uncertain, as his priority is ensuring the safety of Awami League members.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
