Regarding the involvement of her only son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that, the digital Bangladesh that we have built … all these satellites, submarine cables … are all his ideas. He is assisting me.
She expressed her words in an interview given to the Indian news agency Asian News International (ANI). This interview was conducted ahead of a four-day visit to India on September 5. The 46 minute 49 second interview was published on ANI News’ Twitter account on Sunday (September 4). It was released as a premiere video on YouTube.
When asked about her son’s entry into politics, Sheikh Hasina said that her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy is the brain behind many of her government’s digital initiatives. Whether or not Joy joins politics should be left to him and the people of the country.
Addressing the interviewer, he added, “Look… he’s a grown up man now. So it is up to him, but he is working for the country. The digital Bangladesh that we have built, all these satellites, submarine cables or computer training are all his ideas. He is helping me. But he never thought of taking any party or ministry post. He never did anything like that.”
Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina recalled a program of the party. At that time there was a strong demand from workers that Joy should take a role in the party. Sheikh Hasina said, “Even in our party conference, there was a huge demand for his role. Then I asked him and suggested to say something over the microphone. At that time he said, ‘I don’t want any position. Those, who are currently working in the party should get a post. Why should I come to a post? I am with my mother, I am working for the country and supporting her’. That’s how he thinks. So it’s not like I have to make him. He will take his decision. The issue will depend on public demand.”
Sajeeb Wazed Joy is the elder of the two children. Prime Minister’s youngest child is Saima Wazed Putul.
At one stage of the interview while asked, when the responsibility of spreading ‘extremism’ through social media was placed on the bloggers of Bangladesh, the PM clarified that there is extremism everywhere in the world including India. Since social media is very vibrant, some writes whatever they will. But it’s not so, that the bloggers write only about Islam; people from other religions or minorities also write. But we are very careful to control it. We never support them. I think people of every religion have the right to write about their religion properly. But no one should write anything that hurts the sentiments of the followers of other religions. It’s never good. We celebrate all religious cultures.