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TL;DR
- Sajeeb Wazed Joy hires Washington DC lobbying firm Stryk Global Diplomacy for $200,000 to influence U.S. policymakers regarding Bangladesh’s political situation.
- The firm, led by Trump advisers Christian Bourge and Robert Stryk, will engage with U.S. government branches to provide insights on Bangladesh.
- This move follows a history of Joy using U.S. lobbyists, including a $720,000 contract in 2005 with Alcalde & Fay for the U.S. Awami League.
- Joy aims to counter-narratives of Islamist extremism in post-Awami League Bangladesh after his mother’s government fell amid protests.
Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has taken a significant step in international political maneuvering by hiring a prominent Washington DC lobbying firm, Stryk Global Diplomacy (SGD), to influence U.S. policymakers. This strategic move comes in the wake of his mother’s resignation and subsequent flight to India on August 5, 2024, following massive protests that led to the toppling of her Awami League government.
Joy has signed a six-month contract with SGD, valued at $200,000 (approximately Tk2.4 crores), to engage with both the Executive and Legislative branches of the U.S. government. The agreement was filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) on September 12, 2024, through Wazed Consulting Inc., a company solely owned by Joy. The lobbying firm is led by Christian Bourge and Robert Stryk, who have notable connections to former U.S. President Donald Trump, having served as advisers during his 2016 campaign.
This engagement is not Joy’s first foray into lobbying efforts in the United States. In 2005, he paid $720,000 to another lobbying firm, Alcalde & Fay, on behalf of the U.S. Awami League. At that time, concerns were raised about Bangladesh’s political trajectory, with comparisons drawn to Pakistan under General Musharraf and warnings that weakening mainstream parties could empower Islamist forces.
The recent hiring of SGD is seen as part of Joy’s efforts to shape perceptions of Bangladesh’s political landscape in the post-Awami League era. Following his mother’s ouster, Joy has emerged as a key spokesperson for the Awami League, with many party leaders either in hiding or imprisoned. His public statements suggest that the lobbying efforts may focus on portraying Bangladesh as vulnerable to Islamist extremism if not supported by the Awami League.
The backdrop to these developments includes widespread protests in Bangladesh that began in December 2022 and culminated in Sheikh Hasina’s resignation in August 2024. The protests were driven by various socio-economic and political grievances, including rising commodity prices and allegations of government corruption and authoritarianism. On August 5, 2024, amid escalating demonstrations demanding her resignation, Sheikh Hasina fled to India.
The hiring of SGD underscores the ongoing importance of international lobbying in shaping political narratives and influencing foreign policy decisions. For over 15 years, both the Awami League and its political opponents have engaged U.S. lobbyists to sway American views on Bangladesh’s political affairs. This latest development highlights Joy’s continued efforts to leverage international influence amidst a turbulent political climate at home.
Source: TBS News
