Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy was the brain behind many of her government’s digital initiatives but the decision on joining politics is best left to him and the people of the country.

In an interview with ANI, PM Hasina opened up about her son, who is also the PM’s ICT Advisor.

“Look... he’s a grown-up. It’s up to him but he is working for the country… the Digital Bangladesh (initiative) we set up, all these satellite or submarine cable or computer training – these are all his ideas and he is assisting me… But he never thought about taking any position – either in the party or ministry,” the Bangladesh prime minister said.

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Hasina recalled that at one of the events of her party, there was a tremendous demand from leaders and activists that Joy should take up a role.

“Even in our party conference, there was a tremendous demand for him. Then I asked him, you take the microphone and say what you want to do. And he did it. He said no, ‘I don’t want any position in the party at this moment. Rather, those who are working here, they should get this post. Why should I occupy a post? I am with my mother; I am working for the country, and I am assisting her… I’ll continue doing that.’ That’s the way he thinks,” she said.

Asked if she felt it was for her son to take a call, Hasina replied, “It depends on the people, you see.”

During the interview, she also recalled the role of her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in shaping the foreign policy of her nation.

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“Friendship to all, malice to none – which my father, Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said in his address at UN. And we follow his ideology. And my point is that we should focus on our people… How to give them a better life… We have one enemy. That is poverty. So, let us work together,” she said.

Hasina said that she always felt leading countries should address disputes and differences through dialogue. “…If there is any problem between China and India, I don’t want to poke my nose in that. I want development of my country and because India is our next-door neighbour, we have very good relationship. We had many bilateral issues, it’s true, but we solved many problems too,” she said.

During her interview with Indian News Agency ANI, PM Sheikh Hasina also said that the priority for Bangladesh was development and it was willing to take any country’s help that could offer betterment for its people.

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