Pakistan's ISI behind Bangladesh unrest, claims Sheikh Hasina's son

Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s son has blamed Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, for fueling the ongoing unrest in the country.  

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Hasina’s son, said that there is “circumstantial evidence suggesting foreign interference” for the violence in Bangladesh.

“I am quite certain given the circumstantial evidence; I suspect Pakistan ISI’s involvement. The attacks and protests were very coordinated, meticulously planned, and intentional efforts to keep inflaming the situation through social media,” Joy said.

“No matter what the government did to control the situation, they kept trying to worsen it,” the son of ousted Bangladesh prime minister was quoted as saying by PTI.

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As per Joy, the guns provided to rioters to attack police could only be provided by terror outfits and foreign powers.

‘Sheikh Hasina will be back’

Joy also claimed that Hasina, who resigned from the post of Prime Minister and fled Bangladesh, will return as soon as democracy is restored.

“Sooner or later, there has to be a restoration of democracy in Bangladesh and hopefully, that will be between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Awami League. Then Sheikh Hasina will be back,” he said.  

His statement of Hasina going back to Bangladesh came within days after he said that his mother would not return. However, in an interview with PTI, Joy said: “Yes, it is true that I had said she wouldn’t return to Bangladesh. But a lot has changed in the last two days following continuous attacks on our leaders and party workers across the country."

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“Now we are going to do whatever it takes to keep our people safe; we are not going to leave them alone,” he further said.

Joy went on to say that although 76-year-old Hasina would return to Bangladesh, it has not yet been decided whether she will be back as a “retired or active” politician.

Message for Muhammad Yunus

Joy also urged Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh to restore law and order, noting that “the country is turning into a state of anarchy and becoming a second Afghanistan in the region."  

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took oath on Thursday as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government.  

Hasina’s son also said that he expects the interim government to create a level playing field whenever democracy is restored and fresh elections are held.

“You cannot exclude the Awami League and have a representative democracy in Bangladesh ever. Whatever his (Mohammed Yunus) personal views are, he has said that he wants a government of unity and wants to move forward and not let the mistakes of the past cloud over the future. I hope he stays true to his word,” Joy said.  

‘Want to thank India for protecting my mother’

Joy also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for protecting Hasina and appealed to India to help build international opinion and exert pressure to restore democracy in Bangladesh.

“I want to thank the Indian government for protecting my mother. I owe my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Modi. If India wants stability in its eastern backyard, then they have to pressure the international community and take the lead to ensure the quick restoration of democracy,” he said.

Joy also called Awami League an “all-weather ally of India” and said that India must ensure the security of Awami League leaders in Bangladesh by building international pressure.

With inputs from PTI.