Bangladesh Braces for Tensions as Verdict Date in Sheikh Hasina's Case Nears
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Bangladesh remains on high alert as the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) prepares to announce the verdict date in the case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The case, filed under charges of crimes against humanity, including murder, during the 2024 student-led uprising, has sparked escalating tensions nationwide. The government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has banned the activities of the Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliated organisations. However, Awami League leaders have continued to announce their plans through social media, including a nationwide dawn-to-dusk lockdown on Thursday. Security forces, including the army and police, have been deployed at airports and key installations nationwide. Awami League supporters have held flash rallies, while police have launched operations to arrest party leaders and activists. Meanwhile, security forces have set up checkpoints and vehicle searches on major roads. The case against Sheikh Hasina is significant, as her administration originally established the International Crimes Tribunal to prosecute crimes against humanity committed during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan. The tribunal has previously tried several Jamaat-e-Islami leaders accused of war crimes during Hasina's tenure. According to a United Nations report, around 1,400 people may have died during the July protests that led to the toppling of Sheikh Hasina's government. The former Prime Minister fled to India on August 5, 2024, and the interim government has initiated legal proceedings against her in the same tribunal. The ICT is set to announce the verdict date on Thursday, leaving Bangladesh on edge as the country awaits the outcome.
