Hasina mum on Joy joining politics

(From left) Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter-in-law Kristine Wazed wave to the crowd during a public rally on Pirganj Pilot High School ground in Rangpur yesterday. Photo: BSS

Amidst demands from ministers and the party grassroots for formally bringing Sajeeb Wazed Joy into politics, neither Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina nor her son made any comment in this regard at a programme in Rangpur's Pirganj yesterday.
Awami League presidium member Abdul Latif Siddique, also jute and textile minister, urged the prime minister to bring Joy into politics in the programme on Pirganj Govt High School premises.
He also requested Joy to stand beside his mother in politics, and counter the BNP-Jamaat's conspiracy and propaganda against the government and the party.
Another minister  Shajahan Khan also echoed Latif Siddique in the programme.
The party leaders from Rangpur district and Pirganj upazila units also demanded that Joy be made a candidate in Rangpur-6 constituency in the coming elections.
Interestingly, both Hasina, also the president of the AL, and her son Joy remained mum in this regard.
Joy, who spoke at the rally for the first time since the present government assumed power, sought people's support to bring the AL back to power to keep continuing the development activities.
If BNP-Jamaat alliance comes to power, it would halt all development activities across the country, bring back Monga (a seasonal famine), extreme food crisis, and give no electricity to the northern region, said Joy, who joined the rally wearing Mujib coat.
“I pledged to you that I would come back to my home town. I have come back, you see. I promise that if Awami League is voted to power again, the whole of Rangpur will be brought under electricity facilities, and Monga will be eradicated permanently,” Joy told the cheering audience.
Joy's wife Kristine Wazed also paid the maiden visit to Pirganj since their marriage. Thousands of people had been waiting to receive the prime minister, Joy, and Kristine since morning.
They landed Pirganj by a helicopter, and went to their Fatehpur home, and offered special prayers at the grave of Dr Wazed Miah, father of Joy. They also exchanged greetings with the close relatives. Kristine joined the rally with Joy.