Sajeeb Wazed, son of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has hailed India for preventing an alleged assassination attempt on his mother during last year’s political unrest, while also strongly challenging the legitimacy of Dhaka’s extradition request.
Wazed, who was speaking to ANI from Virginia on Wednesday, said New Delhi’s prompt response had allowed Hasina to escape imminent danger as unrest escalated in August 2024.
"India has always been a good friend. In the crisis, India has essentially saved my mother’s life. If she hadn’t left Bangladesh, the militants had planned on killing her", he said.
"I am eternally grateful to Prime Minister Modi's government for saving my mother’s life,” Wazed noted.
Remarking on the Narendra Modi government’s response to Dhaka’s move, Wazed said he believes New Delhi will not act on the extradition request, which he described as “illegal” and politically motivated.
“I think the Indian government knows very well how to handle this extradition request. I don't think they are going to respond to such an illegal request,” Wazed. “I have faith in Indian democracy and its belief in the rule of law.”
He also warns India about the interim government’s alleged support for extremist groups. “What should really concern India, which is propping up the Yunus regime, is Jamaat-e-Islami. They have released tens of thousands of terrorists that our government had convicted and imprisoned. Lashkar-e-Taiba is operating freely now,” he claims.
Wazed further linked the situation to India’s recent security concerns. “They’ve taken credit, and links have been found to their branch in Bangladesh, for the recent terror attacks in Delhi,” he said. “Prime Minister Modi is probably very concerned about terrorism from Bangladesh right now.”
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal-1, on Monday, issued a death sentence to the ousted prime minister, accusing her of directing the violence and large-scale killings that erupted during the July-August 2024 uprising.
Hasina, 78, is facing a raft of cases tied to the “July Uprising,” when security forces launched a sweeping crackdown on nationwide protests. A UN rights report estimates that up to 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15. She fled to India after her government collapsed in August 2024 and has since branded interim leader Muhammad Yunus a “usurper.”
The caretaker government says it has formally sought her extradition, but New Delhi is yet to respond.
The ICT, originally set up by Hasina’s own administration to prosecute 1971 war-crimes suspects, was overhauled by the interim regime to include recent atrocities.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
