New Delhi: Former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a virtual meeting with Awami League cadres Friday directed her ire at those who forced her ouster, less than 24 hours after the newest entrant to Bangladesh’s political scene laid out its vision for a “second Republic”.
Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed turned up the heat even higher, branding the leadership of the newly-formed National Citizens’ Party—student leaders who led the anti-Hasina stir last year—as “terrorist students”.
Wazed wrote in a post on X, “They are doing everything true fascists and dictators have done in the past. Seize power through violence, kill the opposition, then launch a political party and rig elections to stay in power.”
“General Zia did this and created the BNP, General Ershad did this and created the Jatiya Party,” he added.
The terrorist students have launched their own political party. They are doing everything true fascists dictators have done in the past. Seize power through violence, kill the opposition, then launch a political party and rig an election to stay in power. General Zia did this and…
— Sajeeb Wazed (@sajeebwazed) February 28, 2025
His mother and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina too criticized the new party, accusing it of taking power illegally through the use of violence. “Through a conspiracy, they took power illegally without a mandate, no constitutional authority, and have continued their brutal campaign against the people. The government does nothing but to kill Awami League members,” she told five Awami League workers during a virtual interaction.
Hasina, who fled Dhaka last August in the face of widespread protests against her 15 year-rule, criticised the state of law and order in Bangladesh. “In January alone, there were 214 murders, 171 thefts, and 1,044 attacks on women and children. The entire country is gripped by fear,” she said.
The 77-year-old added that she will “return and ensure all institutional reforms (are carried out) in Bangladesh”. She also said “those carrying out atrocities (against Awami League supporters) will be held accountable”.
On their part, Awami League workers who interacted with Hasina talked about losing family members to targeted violence.
Also Read: Hasina, Awami League behind widespread human rights abuse during 2024 Bangladesh protests—UN report
New political party in the mix
Back in Dhaka, Nahid Islam, convener of the newly-formed ‘Jatiya Nagorik Party’ (National Citizens’ Party), reiterated during its launch that its primary goal is to establish a “second republic” in Bangladesh, driven by interests of the people and a commitment to national sovereignty.
In his speech, Nahid emphasised that the new party would not entertain politics driven by foreign influence, stating, “There will be no room for pro-India or pro-Pakistan politics in Bangladesh. We will build the state with the interests of Bangladesh and its people at the forefront.”
National Citizens’ Party was floated by leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Among its agendas is the creation of a new constitution for Bangladesh through a constituent assembly.
The party’s declaration said: “In July 2024, the people and students rose up and overthrew the deeply entrenched fascist government through their immense sacrifice, resulting in an unprecedented uprising. However, it is important to remember that the freedom gained through the sacrifice of hundreds of martyrs was not just to replace one government with another.”
“In this second republic, we will build a robust defense system to safeguard national interests, while focusing on rebuilding the fractured political, social, economic, and cultural institutions… The focus will be on replacing division with unity, revenge with justice, and establishing qualifications over dynastic rule in every facet of society and governance. Corruption and nepotism will have no place in our politics,” it added.
Meanwhile, Hasina’s son Wazed slammed the leadership of the National Citizens’ Party, accusing it of orchestrating violence against the police and Awami League workers, and destruction of historical landmarks, including what was once his grandfather Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house in Dhaka.
“After demolishing the house of the Father of the Nation, they talk about the spirit of the Liberation War? After killing police and politicians, they talk about replacing vengeance with justice? After attacking minorities, they talk about replacing division with unity? This is a joke,” Wazed wrote on X.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
Also Read: As Jamaat-e-Islami resurfaces in Bangladesh politics, what role will it play in a post-Hasina era