Bangladesh’s political crisis is tightening again on the eve of a televised verdict that could reshape the country’s future. Sajeeb Wazed, the son of toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now living in US exile, says a Dhaka tribunal is prepared to hand his mother a death sentence, and that her supporters will shut down next year’s election if the ban on her party stays in place.
Speaking to Reuters from Washington, DC, Wazed did not hedge.
“We know exactly what the verdict is going to be. They’re televising it. They’re going to convict her, and they’ll probably sentence her to death,” he said. “What can they do to my mother? My mother is safe in India. India is giving her full security.”
Hasina, 78, fled to New Delhi in August 2024 after a student uprising ended her 15-year rule. She now faces charges of crimes against humanity over the 2024 crackdown, when a UN report estimated up to 1,400 people were killed, most by security forces firing live rounds at protesters. She denies all charges and says the process is political.
Wazed’s warning lands at a moment of deep volatility. Dhaka has seen a surge of bombings, arson and arrests ahead of February’s planned election. He made clear that the Awami League, suspended in May by the interim administration of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, will not sit out the vote.
“We will not allow elections without the Awami League to go ahead,” he told Reuters. “Our protests are going to get stronger and stronger, and we will do whatever it takes.” He added that “unless the international community does something, eventually there’s probably going to be violence in Bangladesh before these elections.”
The interim government dismissed the threats as reckless.
“The interim government regards any incitement to violence as deeply irresponsible and reprehensible,” a spokesperson said.
In a separate interview with the Associated Press, Wazed framed the ban as an attempt to ensure his mother cannot return to power: “The ban has to be lifted, the elections have to be inclusive and free and fair. What is happening now really is an attempt to keep my mother and our political leaders from running in elections.”
The capital has been rattled by near-daily explosions. On Sunday, crude bombs detonated in multiple neighbourhoods, following 32 blasts reported on November 12. Dozens of buses have been burned. Authorities have detained Awami League activists on sabotage charges, shifted schools online and deployed more than 400 border guards to reinforce checkpoints.
Meanwhile, the Yunus government faces its own credibility problems. A report by rights group Odhikar documented at least 40 extrajudicial killings from August 2024 to September 2025, despite promises to end state violence.
Yunus has pledged elections in February 2026, alongside a constitutional referendum. Whether the country can reach that moment without spiralling further remains an open question.
The latest news in your social feeds
Subscribe to our social media platforms to stay tuned