Joy appoints lobbyist in US spending $200,000

Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy has hired a Washington lobbying firm to influence US policymakers.

Joy signed a six-month contract with Stryk Global Diplomacy (SGD, formerly Sonoran Policy Group), paying $200,000 upfront (around Tk 2.4).

In return, the lobbyists will engage with the executive and legislative branches of the United States government to provide a unique insight on the current issues facing Bangladesh.

The contract with Stryk Global Diplomacy was published on the US Department of Justice’s website.

Over the last 15 years, Hasina and her party have accused the BNP-Jamaat alliance of hiring lobbyists to increase US influence in Bangladesh's politics.

In 2004, Joy first signed a contract with lobbying firm Alcatel and Fa. In 2019, the BNP signed contracts with several lobbying firms, including Bluelight Strategies.

A student-led mass uprising forced Joy’s mother Hasina to resign and flee to India on August 5. This brought an abrupt end to the increasingly authoritarian regime of the Awami League.

Currently, an interim government headed by Nobel laureate Dr Yunus is running the country. It has promised to carry out necessary reforms before arranging a national election.