'They're Going To Convict Her': Sheikh Hasina's Son As Bangladesh Awaits Court Verdict

Last Updated:November 17, 2025, 08:12 IST

Sajeeb Wazed warned that Awami League supporters will block February’s election unless the ban on the party is lifted, cautioning that protests could escalate into violence.

An Awami League poster shows Sheikh Hasina (L), her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (C) (AFP)

Sajeeb Wazed, the son and adviser of deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, warned that Awami League supporters would obstruct next February’s national elections if the ban on the party is not withdrawn, also asserting that Hasina could be sentenced to death.

Speaking to Reuters ahead of a crucial court ruling in Dhaka, he cautioned that mounting protests could tip into violence unless the international community intervenes.

“We will not allow elections without the Awami League to go ahead," he said.

“Our protests are going to get stronger and stronger, and we will do whatever it takes. Unless the international community does something, eventually there’s probably going to be violence in Bangladesh before these elections, there’s going to be confrontations," Wazed said.

“They’re going to convict her, and they’ll probably sentence her to death," he told Reuters, insisting that his mother was secure in India.

“What can they do to my mother? My mother is safe in India. India is giving her full security," he said.

His remarks came on the eve of a televised verdict by the Crimes Tribunal, where the 78-year-old Hasina is expected to be convicted in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity linked to the fatal crackdown on student-led demonstrations in 2024.

Hasina has repeatedly denied the accusations, calling the case a politically motivated attempt to destroy her legacy.

A United Nations report has estimated that between July 15 and August 5 last year, as many as 1,400 people were killed and thousands more injured, mostly from security forces’ gunfire, in the deadliest period of political unrest since Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence.

The garment industry, the backbone of the country’s export economy and a major global supplier, suffered major disruptions during the upheaval.

Hasina fled to New Delhi in August 2024 and has remained in exile since.

According to Wazed, India has accorded her the highest level of protection.

The interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which replaced Hasina’s government after her 15-year rule ended, rejected any claims of political interference in the judicial process.

A spokesperson said the tribunal had worked “transparently, allowing observers and publishing regular documentation."

Hasina told Reuters earlier in October that although she could move freely in Delhi, she remained vigilant about her security.

Her family’s history is marked by trauma, her parents and three brothers were assassinated in a 1975 military coup while she and her sister were abroad.

She has described the ongoing trial as a “foregone conclusion" and “a politically motivated charade."

Wazed said the family would not consider an appeal unless a democratically elected government took office with the Awami League included in the political process.

The party’s registration was suspended in May after the interim government banned its activities, citing national security concerns and ongoing war crimes inquiries against senior leaders.

Meanwhile, tensions in Dhaka have surged ahead of the verdict.

Authorities reported multiple crude bomb explosions on Sunday and more than 30 blasts on November 12, along with dozens of buses set on fire.

Police have detained suspected Awami League members in connection with the sabotage.

Security forces have boosted their presence with over 400 Border Guards, expanded checkpoints, and curbs on public gatherings.

The interim administration said its priority was “de-escalation and protection of life and property."

Wazed confirmed that he and his mother remain in contact with party workers inside Bangladesh but are not communicating with the interim government or the Bangladesh ist Party, which is widely seen as the frontrunner to lead the next administration.

“You’re seeing in the last few days shutdowns across the country, massive protests throughout the country, and they’re only going to get bigger," he said.

Hasina, long praised for accelerating Bangladesh’s economic growth but criticised for authoritarian tactics and human rights violations, secured a fourth consecutive term in an election boycotted by the main opposition in early 2024.

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