Meeting between Hasina, Joy likely in India: Indian media

Sajeed Wazed Joy, son of deposed prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, may come to India soon to meet his mother, according to sources.

During his possible trip, Joy might be meeting his mother in New Delhi and travelling to Kolkata too, India's News18.com reports quoting an unnamed senior AL leader.

Speaking to News18, the former Awami League minister said, "We are very hopeful that he will meet Sheikh Hasina and speak with leaders who are in exile. The interim government has banned the Awami League in an unethical manner. This is part of their strategy to prevent the party from participating in the upcoming elections."

If Joy makes the trip, it will be the first meeting between him and his mother since Hasina left Bangladesh and fled to India following a mass uprising during July-August last year, First Secretary at the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata Tarique Choyon wrote in a Facebook post today (18 May) quoting the Indian media outlet.

Recently, Joy has received citizenship from the United States and has applied for a new passport after his previous one was revoked by the Bangladesh government, which will let him travel to India as a US citizen.

Exiled leaders of the Awami League are hopeful about Joy's visit. His potential trip comes at a time when the interim government in Bangladesh has officially banned the Awami League.

On 12 May, the Election Commission cancelled the registration of the Awami League, the former ruling party led by the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, effectively preventing it from contesting the next national election, which is expected to be held by June next year.

Political parties must be registered with the Election Commission to be eligible to participate in elections.

The cancellation came just hours after the interim government, headed by Muhammad Yunus, issued a formal notification banning the Awami League and its affiliated bodies from conducting any activities — online or offline.

The Ministry of Home Affairs stated that all activities, "including any kind of publication, media, online and social media" as well as "any kind of campaign, procession, meeting, gathering (or) conference" would be outlawed until the trial of the party and its leaders is concluded by a special tribunal under the country's Anti-Terrorism Act.

The decision, the ministry said, is effective immediately.

Hasina fled the country on 5 August 2024 and has been in exile in India since then.

Her son has not met her in person for several years.

The decision to ban the Awami League was first announced on 10 May, with authorities citing the need to safeguard Bangladesh's sovereignty.

Until recently, Sheikh Hasina had been communicating with Awami League supporters via Zoom and other virtual platforms.

However, with the latest government directive, a complete ban on the party's activities has been imposed.