Int’l Desk:

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy says no decision has been made yet over the ousted prime minister’s move to anywhere else from India’s capital New Delhi, where she took refuge after leaving the country.

The news of Hasina’s visa cancellation by the United States that surfaced in Indian media outlets is misinformation, Joy said in an interview on Tuesday with Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

He also spoke about Awami League’s current and future leadership in the interview.

When asked where Hasina is and how she is doing, Joy said, “She is fine and in India at the moment. She is at my sister’s [Saima Wazed Hossain] residence in Delhi. She is doing well but she is very upset.

“She is feeling sad for the country for which her father and entire family sacrificed lives and for which she served jail time, worked so hard and made progress; the people of that country would insult her in such a way and attack her, none of us could have imagined it.”

Answering a question on her US visa cancellation, Joy said, “It’s a rumour. Nothing like that happens.”

Deutsche Welle also wanted to know why Hasina had to resign from prime ministership.

Joy, who was also the former premier’s advisor, said “The violence and attacks prevailing in Bangladesh now had started at that time, and the protesters decided to attack Ganabhaban. She did not want to leave Ganabhaban at that time either. Then we convinced her from the family that not only protesters, but the attackers also could kill you. You must leave the country.”

Hasina resigned under pressure from unprecedented student and public protests and flew to India on Monday afternoon with her sister Sheikh Rehana on board a military aircraft.

Indian media reported on Monday that Hasina has applied for political asylum in the UK. If granted, she intends to go there.

According to media reports, senior Awami League leaders knew about Hasina’s decision to leave the country.

When asked about the situation, Joy said, “It was decided a day ago. She made the decision. A few of us knew that she was set to make the announcement of the resignation.

“Her plan was a transition of power according to the constitution. But when they [protesters] began to march towards Ganabhaban, out of fear we said there is no more time. You have to leave now.”

About Awami League’s leadership, Joy said neither he nor the family currently has any plans to enter politics.

“We are not coming into politics. Our family has faced a coup for the third time, we had to live abroad, losing everything. Except for my mother, all of us have been abroad for a long time. We are settled and accustomed to living here.”