None from Sheikh Mujib, Zia families in country now

Bangladesh is currently going through various political, economic and social crises. Awami League President Sheikh Hasina had to leave the country after being ousted from power in the face of student-people uprising on August 5. Her younger sister Sheikh Rehana also left the country with her.

After the fall of Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, the interim government took power in the country on August 8, but the political and social unrest did not subside. In the meantime, the BNP is demanding the national election as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the government has repeatedly emphasised on carrying out reforms in various sectors. In this situation, many are concerned about whether there is an attempt to 'depoliticise' the country.

In November last, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir warned the government about the 'Minus-2 Formula’, triggering widespread discussions inside and outside the party. Amidst such speculation, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia left the country for medical treatment on Tuesday.

After Khaleda Zia's departure, no member from the country’s top two politically powerful families — Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Ziaur Rahman — is now present in Bangladesh. Many apprehend that Khaleda Zia's departure after Sheikh Hasina could further complicate the country's political scenario. Mentionable, it is the first time when all the members of these two families are outside the country.

Current status of Sheikh Mujib family members

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's two daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, have five sons and daughters. None of them are in Bangladesh now.

Sheikh Hasina: Sheikh Hasina (born September 28, 1947) was the prime minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001 and then from 2009 to 2024. Having served as the country’s PM for more than 20 years, she is the longest-serving PM in the history of Bangladesh. As the PM for the second time, her long 16-year tenure ended through fleeing the country and taking refuge in India. There is still controversy over whether she actually resigned or not. The Indian authorities have issued travel documents to Sheikh Hasina.

Sheikh Rehana: It is not clear whether she is currently with her elder sister Sheikh Hasina or not. Sheikh Rehana also has a British passport. It could not be possible to confirm whether she is in India with her elder sister or has gone somewhere else.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy: Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy is the first child of Sheikh Hasina and nuclear scientist MA Wazed Mia. He served as an unpaid Information and Communication Technology Adviser to then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from January 2019 to November 2023. He is currently residing in the United States.

Saima Wazed Putul: Renowned autism and mental health expert Saima Wazed Putul is the only daughter of Hasina and Wazed. She is currently the director of the South-East Asia Region of the World Health Organisation (WHO). She has been working with the WHO since November 1, 2023. Although she is the daughter of Sheikh Hasina, she is not directly involved in politics. She is currently stationed in the Indian capital of New Delhi.

Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby: Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, is the only son of Sheikh Rehana. He is not directly involved in politics in Bangladesh. However, Bobby played a behind-the-scenes role in the Awami League's election campaign in the 2014, 2018 and 2024 national elections. He plays a vital role in the operation of the online-based campaign of the Awami League through Centre for Research and Information (CRI). He is currently living in the UK.

Tulip Siddiq: is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hampstead and Highgate, previously Hampstead and Kilburn, since 2015. She has served as Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister since 9 July 2024. She has been serving as the Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister since 9 July 2024. She lives in London.

Azmina Siddiq: Sheikh Rehana's younger daughter and Tulip Siddiq's younger sister Azmina Siddiq Rupanti is also not in Bangladesh at the moment. She also lives in London.

Members of extended Sheikh Mujib family: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s nephew and Sheikh Hasina's cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim is a member of the Awami League presidium. His two sons are Sheikh Fazle Fahim and Sheikh Fazle Naim. Fahim was the president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI). Sheikh Selim's family went into hiding after August 5. Sources close to the Sheikh family claim that Sheikh Selim is still in the country. However, the authenticity of this information could not be verified.

Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni, Sheikh Selim's brother, has two children, Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh. Both of them went into hiding after August 5. Sheikh Taposh is a former MP of Dhaka and former mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation. He went to Singapore two days before the fall of the government. Sheikh Parash is also known to have left the country.

Sheikh Selim's younger brother Sheikh Fazlur Rahman Maruf came into the discussion during the casino controversy in 2019. He is currently known to be in Singapore. His brother-in-law, former Jubo League chairman Omar Faruk Chowdhury, is also in hiding.

Sheikh Hasina's cousin Abul Hasnat Abdullah was a lawmaker from Barishal-1 constituency. His son Sadiq Abdullah was a former mayor of Barishal City Corporation. Reliable sources said that Hasnat Abdullah and his younger son Sukant Abdullah left the country for India after August 5. However, Sadiq Abdullah's whereabouts are not yet confirmed. His younger brother Abul Khair Abdullah is a former mayor of Barishal City Corporation. His whereabouts could not be known also.

Sheikh Abu Naser, the younger brother of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has five sons. Two of them, Sheikh Helal Uddin and Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel, were also members of the last parliament. Sheikh Helal's son Sheikh Tanmoy was also a member of the last two parliaments. Helal and Tanmoy are currently living in India.

Helal's another brother is Sheikh Jewel. Jewel was in the country after August 5. However, no one knows where his other three brothers, Sheikh Sohel, Sheikh Rubel and Sheikh Belal, are now.

Sheikh Hasina's cousin Sheikh Fatema Begum's son Nur-e Alam Chowdhury (Liton Chowdhury) was the Chief Whip of the 11th and 12th National Parliaments. Another son, Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury (Nixon Chowdhury), was elected as an independent member of parliament for three consecutive terms from Faridpur-4 constituency. These two brothers have gone into hiding since August 5.

Current status of Zia family members

The family members of the eighth President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman include his wife Khaleda Zia, eldest son Tarique Rahman, Tarique's wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Zaima Rahman, Sharmila Rahman, wife of Ziaur Rahman's younger son Arafat Rahman, and their two children Zahia Rahman, and Zafia Rahman.

Khaleda Zia: Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia left Dhaka for London on January 7, 2025 for better treatment.

Tarique Rahman: BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has been staying in London for a long time. After his mother's arrival, he welcomed her at the airport along with his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman.

Zaima Rahman: Tarique Rahman and Jobaida Rahman's only daughter Zaima Rahman is currently in London.

Syeda Sharmila Rahman Sinthi: Syeda Sharmila Rahman Sinthi, wife of Khaleda's younger son late Arafat Rahman Koko, is currently staying in London. She went to London with Khaleda Zia.

Zahia Rahman and Zafia Rahman: Arafat Rahman Koko's two daughters, Zahia Rahman and Zafia Rahman, live in London.

Political vacuum

The Sheikh Mujib family and the Zia family are the two most dominant forces in Bangladesh politics. Sheikh Hasina is the former Prime Minister and current Awami League president, and Khaleda Zia, the BNP chairperson and former Prime Minister, has also been leading the country's politics for a long time.

Awami League’s student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League was banned in the face of pressure created by Anti-discrimination Student Movement. In practice, the Awami League, the party that led the liberation war, is now far away from the current politics of the country.

The country is currently ruled by an interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus. Since coming to power, this government has faced several obstacles in its efforts to restore political stability in the country. Experts say that this government must maintain impartiality and pave the way for a fair election. In 2006, the 1/11 government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed and Moin U Ahmed tried to change the course of the country’s politics.

They tried to introduce the "Minus Two" formula, which was a plan to exclude Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia from politics. However, the attempt totally failed as the country’s people did not support the idea and the two leaders later returned to politics within a year.

If for some reason the members of these two families stay away from the country's politics and the country for a long time or their absence can create a huge vacuum in the country's politics. Analysts believe that this vacuum can create an opportunity for new political leadership, but at the same time it also increases the risk of instability. Many have also said that the imbalance of power in the absence of the two families can be a long-term threat to the country's democracy.

If the members of Sheikh Mujib and Zia’s families stay away from the country and its politics for a long time, their absence can create a huge vacuum in the country's politics. Analysts believe that this vacuum can create an opportunity for new political leadership, but at the same time it also increases the risk of political instability. Many have also said that the imbalance of power in the absence of the two families can be a long-term threat to the country's democracy.