Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has hired a US lobbying firm for $200,000 in an effort to influence American policymakers regarding the situation in Bangladesh, in line with the Awami League's narrative.

The six-month contract, signed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, was finalized on September 12 between Wazed Consulting Inc., fully owned by Joy, and Stryk Global Diplomacy in Washington, according to documents available on the US Department of Justice’s website.

Stryk Global Diplomacy, co-owned by Christian Bourge and Robert Stryk, is known for its close ties to former US President Donald Trump, with both having served as advisors during his 2016 campaign.

This development follows Sheikh Hasina's departure to India on August 5, after a student-led uprising led to her ouster. Several of her collaborators and Awami League leaders have since gone into hiding or have been arrested due to alleged involvement in corruption and killings during her regime.

Documents show that the lobbying firm will advocate on behalf of the Awami League, aiming to inform US policymakers about the current political situation in Bangladesh.

It is believed, based on Joy’s recent statements, that the lobbying effort will focus on portraying post-Awami League Bangladesh as being vulnerable to Islamist extremism.

Lobbyist engagement concerning Bangladesh has long been a topic of discussion in the country's political landscape. For over 15 years, Hasina and other top Awami League leaders have accused the BNP-Jamaat alliance of using US lobbyists to increase their political influence in Washington.

Joy previously engaged with US lobbying firms in 2004, signing a contract with Alcalde & Fay for $720,000 to promote the Awami League as a counterforce to alleged extremism being promoted by the BNP.

In 2019, the BNP hired several US lobbying firms, including Bluelight Strategies, to advocate against the Awami League, accusing it of undermining democracy in Bangladesh.

Lobbying firms in the US play a key role in shaping narratives and promoting market interests. The US Department of Justice’s website currently lists at least 376 lobbying files related to Bangladesh.