Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who is also her ICT affairs adviser, made it clear yesterday that he will not contest the next general election. He was replying to a reporter's query. “I don’t want to fight the polls. I want to work for the Awami League so that it returns to power,” he added.  Joy expressed his firm optimism that the Bangladesh Awami League (AL) will bag more parliamentary seats in the 11th general election compared to the 2008 polls.  “According to a very recent survey, the AL will secure a landslide victory and bag more parliamentary seats compared to the 2008 general election. The AL is not at all worried about its win,” he said.  Joy was addressing a press conference at the party’s Dhanmondi political office. It was preceded by an exchange of views with members of the AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC) and presidents and secretaries of the party’s associate bodies.

 As per the Constitution, the next general election has to be held in late 2018 or early 2019. The AL-led 14-party alliance had secured a landslide victory in the 2008 elections held under the military-backed caretaker administration. In all, 153 AL candidates were elected unopposed, as the then main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), had boycotted the elections.

About the meeting with party leaders, Joy said: “I came here to inform my party leaders about the survey report and carry out a massive campaign across the country to highlight the present government’s success stories.”

Answering a question, without naming the organisation, Joy said: “A professional organisation conducted the survey. Basically, I conduct the survey with the organisation every year.”

He said the AL will come to power again, as there is no political party that can beat it right now. “If our party leaders remain united, no one will be able to defeat the AL in the next polls,” he said.

Replying to a question whether the next polls will be an inclusive one, Joy, grandson of the country’s founding President, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said what is important in an election is whether the polls are held in a free, fair and credible manner.

“It is not mandatory to make a certain political party [BNP] contest the polls. In a parliamentary democracy any political party can join or boycott the polls. We have nothing to do in this regard,” he said.

Referring to corruption charges against family members of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, he alleged that the BNP is spreading falsehood to hide facts. He said some international media outlets revealed that Khaleda Zia, her sons and her brother had an investment of around USD 12 billion in different businesses in 12 countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. So, there is no scope to hide the issue, he added.

 Replying to another question, Joy said he will join the campaign for the next election as he did earlier.