SAEDNEWS: She planned to submit resignation but there was no time due to protesters' advance, says Wazed.
According to SAEDNEWS, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, the recently ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has not formally resigned from her position, according to her son and adviser, Sajeeb Wazed. Wazed spoke to Reuters early Saturday, asserting that Hasina has been sheltered in New Delhi since Monday following a week of protests that resulted in approximately 300 casualties, many of whom were students. This unrest led to the end of Hasina's 15-year rule in Bangladesh, a country of 170 million people.
"My mother never officially resigned. She didn't get the time," Wazed stated from Washington. He explained that while Hasina intended to announce her resignation, the escalating protests forced her to flee before she could do so. "As far as the constitution goes, she is still the prime minister of Bangladesh," he emphasized.
Wazed further noted that although the president dissolved parliament after discussions with military officials and opposition leaders, the establishment of a caretaker government without Hasina's formal resignation could be legally challenged. He affirmed that the Awami League party, led by Hasina, intends to participate in the next election, which he stated must occur within three months. "I'm confident the Awami League will come to power. If not, we will be the opposition. Either way is fine," he said.
Wazed expressed optimism regarding a recent statement from Khaleda Zia, the leader of the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Zia suggested there should be no animosity following Hasina's departure. "I was very happy to hear Mrs. Khaleda Zia's statement that let bygones be bygones," Wazed remarked. "Let's forget the past. Let us not pursue the politics of vengeance."
He also indicated his willingness to collaborate with the BNP in ensuring democratic elections in Bangladesh. "I believe that politics and negotiations are very important," Wazed noted. "We can argue. We can agree to disagree. And we can always find a compromise."
When asked about his potential candidacy for the prime ministerial position within the Awami League, Wazed stated, "My mother was going to retire after this term anyway. If the party wants me to, maybe. I will definitely consider it."
Wazed declared that his mother is prepared to face trial in Bangladesh, as called for by the student-led uprising. "The threat of arrest has never scared my mother before," he said, adding that she bears no responsibility for illegal actions taken by others in her government. He also refrained from specifying who may be accountable for the violence during protests.
"A government is a big, big machinery," he remarked. "Those who are responsible, they should be brought to justice. My mother absolutely did not order anyone to commit violence against the protesters. The police were trying to stop the violence, but some police officers used excessive force."
Wazed confirmed that the government acted swiftly to address the situation, saying, "We suspended the police officers that shot at students. We did everything we could." He also stated that he would return to Bangladesh when he chooses, affirming, "I have never done anything illegal. So, how is anyone going to stop me?"
