Hasina’s son warns India of ‘another Pakistan’; bomb hits Shakib’s home hours later

Joy, also a senior Awami League leader, made the comment while speaking virtually from Maryland in the US at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in New Delhi on Wednesday (August 5).

Hours after the event, a petrol bomb was thrown at the ancestral house of former Awami League MP and former cricketer Shakib Al Hasan, who also attended the press conference with Hasina and Joy, on Wednesday night.

'Jailed terrorists freed, taking out rallies'

Joy alleged that hundreds of terrorists, convicted and incarcerated by the Awami League government, have been set free and even banned outfits like Hizb ut-Tahir are taking out rallies in public in Bangladesh. Not just that, individuals linked to al-Qaeda have also addressed public rallies, he claimed.

Joy also claimed that political killings have been legalised in Bangladesh since August 2024.

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“Bangladesh today is a failed state; there is no law and order in the country today,” he said.

Word of caution for India

He cautioned India that it will now have to deal with a Pakistan-like neighbour on its eastern flank.

“What should concern India most is that Bangladesh has become another Pakistan today on your eastern front…al-Qaeda operatives are speaking at public rallies. This is what is happening in Bangladesh, and this does not portend well for India or the world at large,” he was quoted as saying.

“In the future, the next generation of global terrorists is going to come from Bangladesh unless this is stopped,” he warned.

Joy urged the Indian media to continue covering developments in Bangladesh.

Bombing at Awami League leader’s house

The miscreants who attacked Shakib Al Hasan’s residence in Keshabmor area in Magura town around 8.45 pm local time also vandalised the house.

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The Awami League condemned the attack, calling it another testament to ongoing genocidal campaign against its leaders.

“A grisly petrol bomb attack took place at the residence of Bangladesh’s celebrated cricket icon Sakib Al hasan, hours after the world-famous star cricketer appeared at a press conference with honourable party president Sheikh Hasina. Ahead of the press conference, BNP, Islamist Jamaat and NCP all publicly threatened national media outlets to weaponise judiciary to sue in case of reports of the press conferences. This calculated attack is yet another testament to ongoing genocidal campaign against awmai league activists in the name of democracy building project, hallmarks of fascism (sic),” the organisation said on X.

Hasina vows to return

Hasina, who also spoke on the same platform on Wednesday, said she will return to Bangladesh in December despite the risk to her life.

The audio-only virtual presser was Hasina’s first public media interaction since fleeing to India on August 5, 2024, in the face of a massive protest. Attendees were unable to see the former prime minister and heard only her voice.

She also demanded lifting of the existing ban on the Awami League party and release of political prisoners while calling upon the international community to support the people of Bangladesh in their struggle for democracy and justice.

Also read: ‘They may kill me’: Sheikh Hasina says she'll return to Bangladesh in December

"I know they may put me in jail or kill me," Hasina said, adding, "I will go back home to be with my people." The Awami League leader also described India as a "great friend" of Bangladesh and said it always stood by her country in times of difficulty.

In her comments, Hasina delved into the prevailing political environment in her country and the challenges facing its people, asserting that her return is not about power but to put Bangladesh back on the track of development, secularism and prosperity.

‘Bangladesh crisis can affect regional peace’

Hasina said the present situation in Bangladesh is very disturbing. "Fear has entered homes, workplaces, and educational campuses; this is not the Bangladesh we built." She said Bangladesh's crisis is not only a domestic challenge as it can affect regional peace, security, trade, development, and human dignity.

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"That is why I call upon the international community and all the friends of Bangladesh to stand with the people of Bangladesh in their struggle for democracy, justice and peace," she said.

"A stable Bangladesh matters for South Asia, for the Bay of Bengal, for development partners, and for all countries that believe in democracy, rule of law and justice," she said.

The Bangladesh foreign ministry reacted sharply to Hasina's media interaction and said the country is "outraged" as the interaction was permitted to be held despite Dhaka conveying concerns to New Delhi over the likely ramifications of the event on the bilateral relations.

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Last November, Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal in Dhaka for alleged "crimes against humanity" over her government's brutal crackdown on student-led protests in 2024. Since the verdict, Dhaka has been urging New Delhi to extradite her to face the law.