Bangladesh Representative:

No one from the influential Sheikh family can be found in the field after the August 5 political change. The matter of Sheikh Hasina leaving Dhaka is clear. Apart from this, many top leaders of Awami League went into hiding after the fall of Sheikh Hasina. Many influential leaders at the middle and grassroots level also gave Gadhaka.

None of the party’s leaders are coming out in public for fear of lawsuits and arrests. Law and order forces have arrested many of them in various positions of the party.

Arrests of former parliamentarians and ministers outside party posts are ongoing. Despite all this, the whereabouts of most of the members of the influential ‘Sheikh family’ in Awami League politics are not found.

Currently, Sheikh Hasina is staying in Delhi, India, but her younger sister Sheikh Rehana left Dhaka with her, but her whereabouts are not clear. Sheikh Rehana also holds a British passport. So it is not certain whether she is in India with her elder sister or has gone somewhere else. The position of Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajib Wazed Joy is also known to many.

She was staying in the United States before Sheikh Hasina left the country. His daughter Saima Wazed Putul serves as the Regional Director-General for South-East Asia of the World Health Organization. He is already staying in India due to work.

Awami League’s research cell Center for Research and Information (CRI) was headed by Sheikh Rehana’s son Redwan Mujeeb Siddique Bobby. Two daughters of Sheikh Rehana.

The eldest daughter Tulip Siddique is a member of the British Parliament. The younger daughter is Azmina Siddique Rupanti. Redwan’s whereabouts are unknown. But Tulip Siddique and Azmina Siddique Rupanti are in UK.

After reviewing the documents of the last four governments, it was found that eight ministers and state ministers of the government between 2009 and 2024 were relatives of Sheikh Hasina. Three mayors of the city corporation, three others served as the chairman and member secretary of the subsidiary organization.

Apart from this, many served in important positions in the Central Committee and affiliated organizations of Awami League. So the big question in the country’s politics is still – where are the other influential people of the Sheikh family?

*Sheikh Family of Gopalganj*

Sheikh Hasina’s cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Salim is a member of the presidium of Awami League. His two sons are Sheikh Fazle Fahim and Sheikh Fazle Naeem. Fahim was the President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI). Sheikh Selim’s family has been in hiding since August 5. Sources close to the Sheikh family claim that Sheikh Salim is still in the country. However, the authenticity of this information could not be confirmed.

Sheikh Salim’s brother Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni has two children, Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapas. They have been missing since August 5. Sheikh Tapas is former MP of Dhaka and former mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation. He went to Singapore two days before the fall of the government. It is known that Sheikh Parash has also left the country.

Sheikh Selim’s younger brother Sheikh Fazlur Rahman Maruf came into the discussion during the casino controversy. He is said to be currently in Singapore. His brother-in-law former Jubo League chairman Omar Farooq Chowdhury is also in hiding.

*Sheikh Family of Barisal*

Sheikh Hasina’s cousin Abul Hasnat Abdullah was a Member of Parliament from Barisal-1 Constituency. His son Sadiq Abdullah was the former Mayor of Barisal City Corporation. After August 5, Hasnat Abdullah and his younger son Sukant Abdullah reportedly left the country and went to India. However, the whereabouts of Sadiq Abdullah could not be confirmed. His younger brother Abul Khair Abdullah is the former Mayor of Barisal City Corporation. It is not known where he is.

*Sheikh family of Khulna*

Five sons of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s younger brother Sheikh Abu Nasser. Two of them Sheikh Helal Uddin and Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel were members of the last Parliament. Sheikh Helal’s son Sheikh Tanmoy was also a member of the last two parliaments.

It is known that Helal and Tanmoy are currently staying in India.

Another brother of Helal is Sheikh Jewel. Jewell was in the country after August 5. However, no one knows where their other three brothers Sheikh Sohail, Sheikh Rubel and Sheikh Belal are now.

*Others of Sheikh family*

Noor-e Alam Chowdhury (Liton Chowdhury), a son of Sheikh Hasina’s cousin Sheikh Fatema Begum, was the Chief Whip of the 11th and 12th National Parliaments. Another son Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury (Nixon Chowdhury) has been elected as an Independent Member of Parliament for three consecutive terms from Faridpur-4 Constituency. These two brothers are also in hiding since August 5.

A member of Awami League’s advisory council, Amir Hossain Amu is the husband of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s cousin Feroza Begum. He is said to have gone to India after August 5.

Meanwhile, on August 18, a notification of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) informed that 24 political personalities were given shelter in various cantonments due to the threat of death in the context of political change on August 5.

Many believe that some of the Sheikh family members may be among the people who got asylum. However, as the situation improved, many left the cantonment, the ISPR said