Sajeeb Wazed calls death verdict revenge, not justice
Sajeeb Wazed accused the Yunus-led interim government of selective justice, saying killings during the 2024 uprising were unfairly granted indemnity.
Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has strongly condemned the death sentence handed down to his mother, calling it nothing short of a politically motivated vendetta disguised as judicial action. In an exclusive conversation with India Today TV, Wazed described the verdict as the culmination of a process that, in his view, was never intended to deliver justice but designed from the start to remove his mother from the political landscape.
The International Crimes Tribunal had convicted Hasina on charges of “crimes against humanity,” alleging that she incited violence, authorized lethal force, and failed to prevent mass killings during the turbulent 2024 student uprising. But Wazed dismissed the entire case as a “complete mockery of justice,” insisting that the trial lacked credibility, transparency, and basic fairness. According to him, the proceedings seemed choreographed to reach a predetermined conclusion rather than uncover the truth.
“Everyone knew this sentence was pre-decided,” he asserted bluntly. “These trials were rushed through. They were wrapped up within 100 to 140 days. That is not justice — that is political theater.” He further argued that the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, had no constitutional authority to amend laws or conduct such trials in the first place. “An unelected, unconstitutional, and undemocratic regime changed legal provisions that cannot be amended without Parliament,” he said, underscoring what he views as a fundamental breach of the rule of law.
One of Wazed’s strongest criticisms centered on the restrictions placed on Hasina’s legal defence. He claimed that she was denied the basic right to choose her own lawyers — a right afforded to even the most hardened criminals. “She was not allowed to appoint her own defence attorneys,” he explained. “Instead, the court effectively forced a lawyer upon her. How can anyone call this justice? It is a complete mockery.” He added that the proceedings took place under an atmosphere of intimidation, where the defence had little room to argue, present evidence, or even challenge the prosecution’s claims.
For Wazed, the case represents far more than a flawed legal process — it is, he says, a calculated act of political revenge. “This verdict is not about accountability, not about justice, not about truth,” he insisted. “This is revenge, plain and simple.” He accused the current interim administration of targeting Hasina solely to silence the political legacy of the Awami League and rewrite the narrative of Bangladesh’s political history.
He also alleged that the regime has applied justice selectively, punishing only those associated with the previous government while providing blanket protection to groups aligned with the new power structure. “The Yunus-led interim government has passed a law that gives immunity to killings committed by their own side,” he said. “All the murders of police officers and Awami League activists during the 2024 uprising have been granted indemnity. So where is their accountability?”
The 2024 student uprising, which began as a protest movement, escalated into intense nationwide unrest that left scores dead, including police personnel and political workers. Wazed argued that while his mother is being blamed for events she neither initiated nor controlled, those directly responsible for violence on the streets are being shielded. He described the government’s approach as deeply hypocritical — proclaiming justice publicly while protecting its supporters privately.
Wazed also warned that decisions like these damage Bangladesh’s democratic fabric and send a chilling message to anyone who dares to oppose those in power. “When a government that has seized power without elections starts delivering death sentences in rushed, questionable trials, it sets a dangerous precedent,” he said. “If this can happen to a former elected Prime Minister, imagine what it means for ordinary citizens.”
Despite the gravity of the situation, Wazed maintained that the fight for justice is far from over. He expressed confidence that the people of Bangladesh, as well as the international community, would eventually see through what he described as a politically orchestrated attempt to dismantle his mother’s life’s work. “My mother spent her entire political career strengthening democracy, building institutions, and working for the people,” he said. “This attempt to destroy her legacy through manipulated trials will not stand the test of time.”
For now, however, Wazed says the world is witnessing an act of political vengeance masquerading as a judicial verdict — and he is determined to call it out for what it is.