DHAKA, July 27, 2023 (BSS) - The 53rd birthday of Bangabandhu's grandson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy was celebrated today.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division in association with Aspire to Innovate (a2i) programme organized different programme to celebrate the birthday.
A seminar titled "Journey towards Smart Bangladesh from Digital Bangladesh" was held at ICT Tower in the city's Agargaon here.
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar addressed the seminar as the chief guest with State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak in the chair.
The cover of a new edition of the 'Samridho Agamir Pratichchhabi' publication was unveiled on the occasion. A magnum size cake was also cut on the occasion marking the birthday.
An audiovisual titled 'Joyjatra' made on the life and works of Sajeeb Wazed Joy was screened in the event.
ICT Secretary Md Shamsul Arefin, ICT Department Director General Md. Mostafa Kamal, a2i Project Director Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Mahfuzul Islam, a2i policy adviser Anir Chowdhury, Bangladesh Association of Contact Centre and Outsourcing (BACCO) President Wahid Sharif,
BACCO General Secretary Touhid Hossain, Bangladesh Computer Council Executive Director Ranajit Kumar, Startup Bangladesh Limited Managing Director Sami Ahmed, Bangladesh Computer Samity President Subrata Sarkar and Internet Service Provider Association of Bangladesh President Md Emdadul Haque were present, among others.
Besides, a large number of leaders and activists of Awami League and its associate bodies and fans of Sajeeb Wazed Joy extended birthday greetings on social media.
Joy, son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and eminent nuclear scientist Dr MA Wazed Miah, played the pivotal role in setting the country's crucial course being the beacon of 'Digital Bangladesh'.
Despite being born to a leading political family, Joy so far preferred a distinct course of action unlike any conventional politician, to materialize the electoral pledge of the party he belongs to and his mother Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leads to build a Digital Bangladesh.
Joy was a key figure in formulating the Awami League's Vision 2021 manifesto based-on what the party was elected thrice to power at a stretch since 2008, according to media reports.
Being a member of Bangladesh's most illustrious political family, Joy's character largely reflects the qualities of his grandfather Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of independent Bangladesh.
A graduate in computer engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in the United States, Joy was born in 1971, coinciding with the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation.
His father Dr MA Wazed Miah was an internationally reputed nuclear scientist.
In August 1975, his grandparents including Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, uncles and aunts were assassinated by a group of disgruntled army men in Bangladesh.
During the time, he along with mother, father and aunt survived as they were visiting West Germany.
The family was barred by the military regime from entering the country until 1981. After returning to Bangladesh in 1981, his mother assumed the presidency of the Awami League and spearheaded the campaign for the restoration of democracy.
Sajeeb Wazed attended boarding school in India, including St. Joseph's College in Nainital and Kodaikanal International School in Palani Hills, Tamil Nadu, according to wikipedia.
He studied computer science at the University of Bangalore. Then, transferred to The University of Texas at Arlington in the United States where he graduated with a BSc degree in computer engineering.
Subsequently, Wazed attended the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University where he completed his Masters in Public Administration.
During the black chapter of caretaker government, when his mother Awami League President Sheikh Hasina was arrested on non-existent charges which was subsequently found to be unsubstantiated, Sajeeb Wazed took charge of bringing the world's attention not only to the plight of his mother Sheikh Hasina but also the restoration of democracy in his motherland by launching several campaigns in the United States and Europe.
His efforts brought fruition, and the military-backed extra constitutional government was compelled to release Sheikh Hasina from prison, following which she has led three consecutive governments having won the national elections in 2008, 2014 and 2018 respectively.
