Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, who has been in exile in India since being ousted in last year’s coup, is reportedly preparing to induct her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul into formal leadership roles within the party, according to a report by BBC Bangla’s Delhi correspondent Shubhojyoti Ghosh.
The report suggests Hasina is considering a succession model similar to India’s Congress Party, which elevated Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi to leadership positions. Hasina has led the Awami League for 44 consecutive years but has never publicly discussed succession plans.
BBC Bangla wrote that under current circumstances, Hasina is relying increasingly on her children. Putul, now based in Delhi, has already begun engaging in political activities and is said to play a key role in managing day-to-day party affairs, while Joy, living in Virginia, USA, has taken on responsibilities for media outreach and shaping narratives abroad. Hasina’s nephew, Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, is also expected to be given a role.
The developments come as Hasina faces trial at the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka on charges related to last July’s deadly crackdown. The interim government has also barred the Awami League from all political activities and suspended its registration with the Election Commission.
Party leaders told BBC Bangla that Hasina continues to operate under heavy security restrictions in Delhi. Putul is reportedly acting as her proxy in meetings with party members, while Joy has been active in international media appearances.
Political observers note that the move mirrors Congress’s reliance on the Gandhi family. Delhi-based analyst Vinod Sharma told BBC Bangla that, given the Awami League’s long-standing family-centered tradition, Hasina’s succession plan is “not surprising.”
Meanwhile, former junior minister Mohammad Arafat downplayed the matter, telling BBC Bangla that no such succession plan is being formally discussed inside the party. He said the Awami League’s priority remains the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh.
The BBC report highlights that after being placed on indefinite leave from her post as WHO Regional Director, Putul has become more visibly active in politics. Her political rise, coupled with Joy’s media presence, marks the beginning of what observers describe as a triangular leadership arrangement within the Awami League, with Hasina slowly delegating more responsibilities to her children.
