Moderator VFD
Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has hired a lobbyist in the United States to gain proximity to U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump. As part of his effort to reach U.S. policymakers, Joy has signed a contract with the prominent Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm, Strike Global Diplomacy. This information was reported by Sweden-based online news portal Netra News.
According to the Netra News report, on September 12, Joy’s company, Wazed Consulting Inc., entered into a contract with Strike Global Diplomacy under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Joy has agreed to pay $200,000 for a six-month contract. Under the agreement, the lobbyists will work to draw the attention of U.S. government executive and legislative branches to current issues facing Bangladesh.
The lobbying firm, led by Christian Bourge and Robert Stryk, has strong ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump. Both worked as advisers during Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Joy previously signed a contract with the same lobbying firm in 2005 on behalf of the Awami League, for which he paid $720,000.
At that time, Republican Gary Ackerman expressed concerns about Bangladesh’s political direction, comparing it to Pakistan under General Musharraf, and warned that the weakness of mainstream political parties could empower Islamic forces.
Notably, after Sheikh Hasina fled to India in the face of student protests, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy took on the role of spokesperson for the Awami League. Following Hasina’s downfall, Joy has been promoting the idea that Bangladesh is becoming influenced by Islamic extremists.
Published On: 10| News Portal: Bangla Outlook| Source: Link
