Mon Nov 17 01:10:08 UTC 2025: Bangladesh Braces for Verdict Against Ex-PM Hasina Amidst Tightened Security
Dhaka, Bangladesh – Bangladesh is on high alert as the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) prepares to deliver its verdict on Monday against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for alleged crimes against humanity. Security has been significantly heightened across the nation, with police in Dhaka authorized to use lethal force against violent protesters.
Hasina, 78, is being tried in absentia, having fled to India following widespread protests against her government in 2024. The prosecution has sought the death penalty for Hasina, accusing her of masterminding the violent suppression of protests that resulted in an estimated 1,400 deaths during what has been dubbed the “July Uprising.”
“We have sought the highest possible sentence for Hasina,” stated ICT-BD prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed in several key districts, including Dhaka, to maintain order. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali has instructed officers to shoot individuals engaging in arson or throwing explosives with intent to kill.
The case against Hasina and others, including her former home minister and the then-Inspector General of Police, involves charges of murder, torture, and other inhumane acts. Hasina’s supporters claim the charges are politically motivated, and a UK-based law firm has appealed to the UN, alleging a politically charged environment under the current interim government.
Tensions have escalated in recent days with a wave of arson attacks and crude bomb explosions in Dhaka, targeting public transportation and institutions linked to the interim government. Police have arrested several activists in connection with the unrest.
The interim government has requested Hasina’s extradition from India, which has yet to respond. Meanwhile, Hasina has labeled the ICT-BD a “kangaroo court.”
The ICT-BD, originally established in 2010 to prosecute collaborators from the 1971 Liberation War, was later amended to allow trials of leaders from past regimes, paving the way for the current case against Hasina.
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