Joy: Emerging leader of Awami League

[This was published in Dhaka Courier on 20 March 2014]]

Wikipedia notes ’Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed; born July 27, 1971, also known as Sajeeb Wazed Joy, is a Bangladeshi political campaigner and PowerPoint scientist. Wazed is a member of the Awami League (On 25 February 2009, Wazed officially joined the Awami League as a primary member of the Rangpur district unit of the party), one of Bangladesh's two main political parties. He has worked as campaigner for League for several years and played a key role in drafting Vision 2021, a manifesto which sets out goals for Bangladesh's economic, social, scientific and technological development. Wazed has been named by the World Economic Forum as one of the 250 Young Global Leaders of the World.’

Yes, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, only son of Sheikh Hasina and Dr. Wazed Muah, who has been passing his days mostly in USA as a resident, is likely to wear the cap of the president of Awami League if the existing current and trend of dynastic succession in the politics and statecraft of Bangladesh continues unbridled, logical or not. This may take place in different moods and modes say, (a) Sheikh Hasina herself may decide to quit in favor of him or (b) she may make grounds for her son for gradual ‘march forward’ both politically and organizationally or (c) Joy may be chosen to fill in the gap amidst power struggle and chaotic state of affairs in the party following the sudden demise, natural or not, of Sheikh Hasina. Such leadership may be instantaneous or delayed. If Joy ever comes to politics, he has to embrace under the given circumstances any one of these options. More exciting is that such eventuality may also take place during the premiership of Sheikh Hasina. And in that case Joy has the brightest possibility to step into the shoes of his mother Sheikh Hasina for taking lead of the council of ministers as happened in case of Rajeev Gandhi, successor of Nehru-Indira dynasty in India.

In the context of Bangladesh, it is said and understood that Joy is likely to go ahead in line with Tarek Zia, eldest son of Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda and now senior vice-president of BNP and away from Bangladesh, who has at present been passing his days in UK on medical grounds in accordance with permission from the high court (In fact, just to avoid political harassments covering arrest, Imprisonments etc). Perhaps foremost variations between Joy and Tarek, apart from education and way of dealing with the people, might be the mood and mode of getting involved in politics and/or statecraft.

If Joy decides to get involved in politics and statesmanship under his mother, Sheikh Hasina, now or afterwards, he has to face less challenges and risks indeed at the same time having more opportunities to study, learn politics, statecraft and issues and problems in and around accordingly in the context of local, national, regional and international landscapes. Necessity and complexities of the working of inner-democracy, making befitting opportunities and grounds for the growth and development of leaderships leading to statesmanship and so on should duly be weighed and prioritized if Awami League sticks to its decision to last and continue with the head high in pride, not hung down in shame facing the challenges and dilemmas of the 21^st century. One must agree there lies a sort of distinguishing space between the old and new generations on the understanding, digestion and delivery of politics and statesmanship, intrigues, factionalism and group politics of the day and age and Joy may/should be a dependable bridge meticulously in this regard.

If he becomes a product of unexpected grave circumstances following the departure of his mother (sudden or not), there is no denying the fact more challenging landscapes shall appear before him. Here he shall be supreme but inexperienced in the art of politics and statesmanship in action. And it is almost reverse of his standing under his mother Sheikh Hasina. Therefore, best for him is to start political journey right now openly coming out of so-called ‘orbit of intellectual political exercise’. His off and often ‘off the record’ and/or ‘on the record’ statements on vital issues of weighty importance, national or international, need to be rethought and reconsidered since he is the emerging loadstar of/for AL.

Whenever Joy enters politics and statesmanship there is every possibility that in the end he has to meet Tarek Zia either as leader of the government (Prime Minister) or as leader of the opposition in parliament provided parliamentary democracy keeps on going in an uninterrupted manner. Hence, his leadership, it is assumed, shall also be crowned and characterized with democratic environ predominantly.

Shortcomings of Joy include his art of delivery of speeches, choice and application of words, sentences and phrases and embarking upon matters not becoming enough for him. True it is that he is educated also with a Masters in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University, knowledgeable, qualified, logical, coherent, harmonious, magnamonous and up to date and possessed of a very scientific and technological bent of mind. For his overall integrity, he is a widely acclaimed personality within the circles, close or not too far away. He carries the risk of being misunderstood gamely for his simplicity and inquisitiveness. His greatest asset is his ‘evergreen meaningful smile’ backed by a variety of thoughtful expression, expected or not.

Joy is with the government in his capacity as adviser to the Prime Minister for IT and in his capacity as an IT policy analyst, unveiled the concept paper and action plan for the government's ambitious "Digital Bangladesh" scheme; to develop a strong ICT industry in Bangladesh and initiate e-governance and IT education on a mass scale. Therefore, there are reasons to conclude that he has meanwhile started learning and practicing statesmanship being close to the heart of power. He is not in active politics, although he is a kind of decision-maker behind the curtain. It is in the air that he is getting prepared to take over in future the helm of AL and as such he is intimately associated with his mother Sheikh Hasina, who is currently wearing the three leading caps of power say, president of Awami League, leader of the house and head of government in our context Prime Minister, in taking major decisions of the party as well as the government.

It is on record that cronyism, philistinism and sycophancy and all other vices, diseases entailing cancers as well have overshadowed almost all areas in Bangladesh and the blast of which is necessarily vehement and vibrant in politics and statecraft. Joy is definitely not unaware of such landscapes. Sometimes rumors are aired centering his standing and interference (II am not aware of any document/proof) placing him at par or above Tarek Zia, founder of Hawa Bhaban. Public perception, impression and image are very important in politics and statecraft and Joy should take utmost care of such essentials. He has to bear in mind that he is carrying a legacy to which Bangladesh owes a lot for her birth and standing. For becoming the son of renowned nuclear scientist Dr. Wazed Miah and avowed leader and statesman Sheikh Hasina and a grandson of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Joy should feel proud under all circumstances, favorable or not.

If Joy is determined to place him on the right track and fold with a vision and mission, he should be tactful, political and diplomatic enough to recognize and confess the loopholes, errors and blinders made voluntarily or recklessly or inadvertently by his predecessors in the legacy. Meaningfully he must shout on a high volume against corruptions, maladministration and initiatives and steps against democracy and human rights. He must speak for the organization and bona fide, neglected activists, ranks and files in the AL. He must guard against sales and purchases of nominations for the offices of upazila parishads, district councils, city corporations and parliament which fall into the fold of elections conducted by Election Commission in particular. He must be far-sighted enough while passing comments on national leaders and intelligential belonging to the folds of oppositions including those of major opposition in parliament.

Therefore, from all standpoints let Sajeeb Wazed Joy kick his coyness, confusions, hesitations and limitations off, get involved in active politics formerly ,instead of being and remaining merely  a member of  the Rabgpur district unit of AL, and start his journey from the very soil of his home district Rangpur. He should be confident sans any shade of doubt that root of his ‘Charisma’ lies in Rangpur. To survive, stand and continue in politics and statecraft at least in the politics of Bangladesh unavoidable ingredient is charisma, which I believe is very much dormant in him. It essentially needs to get unfolded and it is within his nails and fists since he has been carrying the legacy of Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina. To suit the very purposes, he should/must settle and stay more in Bangladesh. Otherwise, there is a possibility of his being called a ‘proxy leader’ by the opponents, critics and oppositions. He must remain above the slur that has in the meantime clouded the overall standing of Dr. Kamal, President of Gono Forum’, and Syed Asraful Islam, General Secretary General of Awami League.

People in Rangpur are ready to welcome and embrace Joy from the very bosom of their minds because they are really tired and fed up at the chronic change of mind in politics and statecraft of their once beloved son jatio party chairman and former president H. M. Ershad. Ershad is aged and disappearing while Joy is new and fresh with a radiating mood and mode. For Joy my advice is ‘O Joy,  son of Sheikh Hasina and grandson of the father of the nation Bangabandhi Shiekh Mujibur Rahman, never feel obligated to go in search of a Machiavelli, Hobbes, Ferdousi, Kautilya and so on in the politics and statecraft of the 21^st century. Repose your trust on people and they shall accordingly take you to the point of destination’