How was Bangabandhu’s birthday celebrated on March 17, 1975, before he was brutally assassinated 5 months later? A video posted on Prime Minister’s ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy’s verified Facebook profile shows how the country celebrated the Father of the Nation’s birthday that year. Along with the video, Sajeeb Wazed posted a caption that reads: “March 17, 1975 was a memorable one as all ways led to Dhanmondi 32 where thousands of people gathered since the dawn to wish their leader on his birthday. Read More: Bangabandhu’s birth anniversary and National Children’s Day celebrated in Canberra “My grandfather Bangabandhu appeared before them, exchanging greetings and shaking hands. His day was tightly knitted with programs from appearing in an award-handing ceremony to receiving greetings from overseas diplomats. In addition, school students also greeted their leader inside the national parliament premises. “Who knew that this man who kindled the spirit of freedom in the hearts of millions would be gunned down by the assassins the same year? The successive military rulers sealed the chapter in such a way that even the footages, recorded and stored by Bangladesh Film Archive, were not allowed to see the light. “However, owing to the tireless works of those who preserved it, these footages are now made public.” Read More: The Fearless Call commemorates fearless Bangabandhu “On his birthday, I would like to pay my tribute to the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” Sajeeb Wazed wrote.

Amid criticism from Dhaka University Teachers’ Association over US ambassador’s “contradictory” approach towards family members of armed forces officers – many of whom were freedom fighters – executed during Gen Ziaur Rahman’s regime, Prime Minister’s ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy called out the “double standards” in a humorous tone. On Martyred Intellectuals Day (December 14, 2022), US Ambassador Peter Haas visited the residence of Sanjida Islam, coordinator of ‘Mayer Dak’, an organisation of families of victims of enforced disappearance, in Dhaka’s Shaheenbagh. Sanjida is the sister of BNP leader Sajedul Islam Sumon, who is reportedly a victim of enforced disappearance that took place in 2013. Read more: DUTA slams US Ambassador for ‘contradictory’ behaviour Acting on information that the US ambassador was visiting a house in Shaheenbagh area, members of ‘Mayer Kanna’ – a platform of family members of victims of enforced disappearance during Gen Zia’s rule – showed up and tried to draw the attention of the ambassador. Awaiting justice for over four decades, the victim families sought intervention of the US ambassador for bringing the perpetrators to book. Gen Zia “unjustly executed around 1,156 army and air force personnel – by hanging or firing squad,” the ‘Mayer Kanna’ appeal reads. Terming the US ambassador’s behaviour “contradictory”, a Dhaka University Teachers’ Association statement said that the envoy went to the house of a disappeared person, but didn’t listen to what ‘Mayer Kanna’, an organisation seeking justice for those killed and disappeared during the regime of Ziaur Rahman, had to say. Read more: US envoy’s visit to Mayer Dak coordinator’s house won’t hurt ties: Info Minister Following the much-talked about incident, Sajeeb Wazed on his verified Facebook page wrote: “Why has there never been a coup in Washington, DC? Because, there is no US Embassy there!” The post gained traction on social media amid statement from BNP leaders raising concerns about diplomats’ security in the country. Many netizens pointed out the 2004 grenade attack on the then British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Anwar Choudhury, in Sylhet, when BNP was in office. Many also questioned the timing of the US ambassador’s visit on Martyred Intellectuals Day. The nation mourns the day by honouring the martyrs, going to memorials. During the Liberation War in 1971, Pakistan army with its local collaborators — many belonging to Jamaat — picked up over 1000 Bengali intellectuals and brutally killed them. The alliance between Jamaat and BNP dates back to the latter’s founding days under Gen Ziaur Rahman.

Criticizing BNP for preferring the road in front of the party’s Naya Paltan office as the venue for their December 10 rally, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy said that the occupied road would cause an endless tailback and immense sufferings to city dwellers. In a post from his verified Facebook account, he came down hard on the opposition party for rejecting Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s request to organize the rally on Suhrawardy Udyan ground. Questioning their intent, he remarked that the purpose of this move is to “exaggerate the number of people” that the road can accommodate. Read more: Mirza Abbas had terror links under BNP regime, says Sajeeb Wazed Joy "BNP also plans to perpetuate their gathering by refusing to leave the spot once they have been allowed to hold the event there. They want to repeat violent arson attacks that they did in 2014-15," Sajeeb Wazed added. "On the other hand, police offered them the sprawling Suhrawardy Udyan ground, the perfect venue for holding such huge rallies. AL regularly holds such rallies there. At the same time, people in the city would be relieved of an enormous traffic jam," he further said. Read more: BNP-Jamaat fielded '300 cadres' as local government election officers ahead of 2007 polls: Joy Sajeeb Wazed also cautioned people against what he called the “sick politics of the unpopular party BNP” and the “evil motive of heightening people’s distress.”

Countdown for the biggest recognition for young Bangladeshi changemakers, Joy Bangla Youth Award, is about to be over with the event on Saturday. Young Bangla, country’s biggest youth network, this year announced to hand over awards to ten outstanding organisations under five categories following a rigorous screening process for over 500 applications. Sajeeb Wazed, chairperson of Center for Research and Information (CRI), will hand over the awards at the ceremony — to be attended by an esteemed jury panel and a stream of country’s top young achievers, former and current awardees. As part of endeavours to revive his grandfather Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s vision of “Sonar Bangla”, Sajeeb Wazed has been credited for the country's digital transformation, making Awami League's 2008-electoral promise of Digital Bangladesh a reality. As Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ICT adviser, Sajeeb Wazed has monitored and overseen the digitalisation of all spheres of life — from online schooling to financial transactions. Read: 6th Joy Bangla Youth Award to be held on Nov 12 Bangladesh benefited from that digital transformation during the coronavirus catastrophe across the world. It managed to keep its economy going through a wide spectrum of digital activities, including e-commerce, telemedicine, virtual court, and delivering money to the poor through mobile platforms. Bangladesh’s growth trajectory during the Covid-19 pandemic was much better compared to its bigger neighbours , owing to this all-encompassing digitalisation. As the chairperson of Centre for Research and Information (CRI), Awami League’s think tank, Sajeeb Wazed is realising his vision of grooming the next generation of Bangladeshi super-achievers. With the CRI team, he launched a series of interactive programs with young Bangladeshis. Joy Bangla Youth Award — the country's first initiative to recognise, award and create a network of young changemakers — is CRI's signature programme. Joy Bangla Youth Award has helped showcase silent but transformational initiatives — from educating street children in Dhaka to helping the poor and vulnerable tea worker communities in Sylhet. Read: ‘Sports for All’: Young Bangla holds “Let’s Talk” with policymakers, students in Ctg Born amidst the turmoil of the 1971 Liberation War, Sajeeb Wazed, like his sister Saima Wazed, had to come to terms with the “Midnight Massacre” on the fateful night of August 15, 1975, when Bangabandhu was gunned down with much of his family. Only his mother Sheikh Hasina and aunt Sheikh Rehana survived the horrific carnage. “Hasina: A Daughter's Tale”, the CRI-driven moving docu-feature showcases the horrors of that darkest chapter of the nation and the incredible transformation the country went through under Sheikh Hasina. Since its inception in 2014, Young Bangla, the largest network of the country's youths, has become a hub of 12,500 volunteers, 2,00,000 members, and 300 youth organisations. Read: ‘Joy Bangla’ made national slogan: Govt notification The goal of this platform, CRI’s youth secretariat, is not just awarding or recognising the young changemakers but also helping them network, connect with policymakers, and receive proper grooming. Owing to the support provided by Young Bangla, a couple of past awardees later earned international recognition including the prestigious Diana Award and International Children’s Peace Prize.

The BNP-Jamaat government appointed "300 party cadres" as upazila election officers ahead of the elections scheduled for January, 2007, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son and ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy on Friday. "In the history of Bangladesh, there has never been such quick recruitment through the Public Service Commission (PSC)," Joy wrote on his verified Facebook account. The government led by Khaleda Zia tarnished the PSC and the recruitment process in government jobs by making these appointments based on the list and without any examination, he added. Read: Zia killed many freedom fighters to prolong “illegal rule”, says Sajeeb Wazed Joy in FB post

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. Read:“Despite pandemic and Ukraine war, Bangladesh economy in robust shape” 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. Read:“Not only Bangladesh, in India minorities suffered too at times” “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. Read “Differences can be resolved through dialogue, Bangladesh-India do precisely that”

Highlighting BNP-Jamaat government’s failure and corruption in the country’s power sector, Prime Minister's ICT affairs adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy has said the only achievement of BNP was activating the operation of Tongi Power Station through overhauling on September 3, 2005. Its plaque was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia but the power station tripped even before she could reach Abdullahpur in Uttara after inaugurating it, Sajeeb recalled in a Facebook post accompanied by a visual titled “Reform proposal by Mirza Fazrul quarter: Will BNP revive the power sector that it has destroyed?” Read: August 21 grenade attack planned in Hawa Bhaban: Joy “During their tenure between 2001 and 2006, BNP couldn’t add even a single megawatt to the grid. In the name of generating electricity, Tarique’s (BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman) cohorts with a Hawa Bhaban syndicate looted billions by simply erecting electric posts,” said the commentary in the video. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir vowed before media that if they came to power, they would overhaul the power sector, according to the video posted on Friday night.  

Wishing on his birthday, the Centre for Research and Information (CRI) on early Wednesday said Sajeeb Wazed Joy has become a voice of the youth in Bangladesh's policy reform circles. "He is now helping policymakers make Bangladesh a knowledge-driven economy and deal with the challenges of the 4IR," CRI said. Describing Joy as a visionary and strategist, CRI wished him a very happy birthday. On this day in 1971, Sajeeb Wazed was born in Dhaka, amidst a furious War for Liberation of Bangladesh. Joy's father was a nuclear scientist and his mother Sheikh Hasina is the prime minister of Bangladesh. His grandparents were killed in August 1975, and young Sajeeb would be barred from entering Bangladesh by a military regime. Read: Sajeeb Wazed to hand over Joy Bangla Youth Award to young masters Tuesday He then did his schooling in India and moved to America to pursue his computer science undergraduate and public policy graduate studies at the University of Texas and Harvard University respectively. In his 30s, he became an advocate for democracy in Bangladesh when an unelected military-backed regime ruled over Bangladesh in 2007. He helped restore a politically elected government. He would start advocating for a new progressive tech-advanced Bangladesh. Sajeeb became the ICT affairs advisor to Bangladesh's Prime Minister. He is regarded as the mastermind of the Digital Bangladesh initiative, which would accelerate e-governance and transform the country's IT industry in 15 years.

Lamenting the disgraceful inclusion of the indemnity of Bangabandhu's killers in the fifth amendment to the constitution, Prime Minister's ICT Affairs Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy has termed it as the beginning of the culture of impunity. "Today is notorious July 9. On this day in 1979, this indemnity act against humanity was passed in the parliament, initiating the culture of impunity in the country," wrote Joy from his verified Facebook account. Following the darkest chapter in independent Bangladesh, the assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family on August 15, 1975, the indemnity ordinance was introduced on September 26 in the same year, paving the path for Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad to take over with the help of Bangabandhu's killers, he added. Also read: Cheerful PM’s photo with Joy, Putul from Padma Bridge takes netizens by storm According to the indemnity ordinance, no one involved in Bangabandhu's murder or its conspiracy could be tried in lower court, Supreme court, or court martial.  Thus Bangladesh’s first military dictator Ziaur Rahman turned the ordinance into an act, denying people's basic rights to get justice, he further said. The killers were protected and rewarded through the indemnity ordinance. Even some of them were endowed with embassy jobs while some became members of the parliament in 1988, he wrote in the post accompanied by a video. Also read: Future of Bangladesh hinges much on Padma Bridge: Joy The stigma was finally eradicated by the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, which scapped the act on November 12, 1996, he concluded.

Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy has said Padma Bridge is not just an engineering masterpiece but a symbol of pride and dignity of Bangladesh as well. "All the people of this country equally share this glory. The future of Bangladesh hinges much on this bridge," he wrote while sharing a video from his verified Facebook account on the mega project. Monsoon is around and the river Padma will be bulging soon, the most treacherous one only after the Amazon. Since independence, people of the entire southern region have been required to risk life for crossing the river throughout the year. Read: Padma Bridge gets final touches before the June 25 grand opening "But that risky journey seems to end on June 26 as the Awami League government has bridged your dream with reality, building a bridge to make your journey safer, easier, faster and hassle-free," Joy said. Padma Bridge stands majestically above the river marked with one of the strongest currents in the world. Braving a spectrum of challenges, we have finally executed this self-funded project, he said. "It's your and my hard-earned money that contributed to this success. Padma Bridge with my money, Padma Bridge for my country," he said. It was beyond the imagination of the world that a developing country in South Asia could handle this masterpiece structure with its own fund, Joy said. But, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's indomitable courage and vision made this happen, he added. "Now this success story of Bangladesh is acclaimed all across the planet. Padma Bridge, awaiting an awe-inspiring inauguration on June 25, symbolizes the dignity of Bangladesh on the global stage," Joy mentioned in his Facebook post. Read: Padma Bridge lights up the night ahead of opening This bridge has connected around one-third of the country's land area, entangled with rivers, to the capital. Consequently, it will catalyze the local and international trades of Bangladesh. "In addition to transforming the economic footing of around 50 million people of the South-west part of the country, it will also ensure a rise in the national income by at least 1.5%, a paradigm shift for the entire Bangladesh," Joy said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the Padma Bridge on June 25 while it will remain open for vehicular movement from June 26.