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New Delhi: Ahead of Bangladesh’s February 12 general election, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeed Wazed Joy has launched a sharp attack on the election process. He even called it “rigged” and urged citizens to boycott the vote. Speaking via video link at a public event in India. Joy said the country was being run by extremists and warned that the upcoming election would lack legitimacy.

Joy was addressing a discussion around the book Inshallah Bangladesh: The Story of an Unfinished Revolution, where he spoke publicly on the issue for the first time from an international platform. He alleged that Bangladesh is currently under the control of extremist forces and accused Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus of acting on behalf of radical Islamist groups. According to Joy, violence has escalated in recent months with several Awami League workers and police personnel killed even though the party is no longer in power.

Joy claimed the February 12 election would be completely one-sided alleging large-scale intimidation and manipulation. He said incidents of arson, vandalism and attacks on political offices had already taken place, yet the process was being pushed forward regardless. He also accused the United States of backing BNP leader Tarique Rahman to serve its own strategic interests.

Joy, while referring to the Awami League’s 17-year-tenure, said had remained largely free of terrorism during that period. He claimed extremist groups were kept in check and were unable to spread their influence into eastern India. He argued that the situation has now reversed.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy A discussion program on a newly published Book. https://t.co/LaYvMpMMcn

— Bangladesh Awami League (@albd1971) February 2, 2026

Allegations of extremist presence and banned parties

Joy alleged that leader linked to Lashkar-e-Taliban are openly holding rallies in Bangladesh while Al-Qaeda operatives are moving freely. He further claimed that not just the Awami League but all progressive political parties have effectively been sidelined or banned, turning the election into what he described as a “farce”.

Joy called out voters to stay away from polling booths and claimed that the outcome had already been decided. He predicted a split victory between the BNP and Jamaat and urged citizens not to legitimise the process by voting. With BNP acting chief Tarique Rahman consolidating influence at home and Joy speaking out from abroad, the political temperature in Bangladesh appears set to rise further in the days leading up to the polls.