Bangladesh sets Nov 17 verdict in Hasina crimes case as protests spread nationwide

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal fixed November 17 to deliver the verdict in the crimes against humanity case involving former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The three-judge tribunal heard that Hasina, her Home Minister in the ousted Awami League government, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and then inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were tried in the tribunal, with Hasina and Kamal tried in absentia and declared fugitives. Mamun appeared in person and, as an approver, described the roles of the two co-accused in taming last year’s July Uprising.

Disruptions ripple through Bangladesh as the ousted Awami League called for a nationwide lockdown in protest against the trial. Classes in Dhaka and major cities switched to online platforms, and public transportation was severely disrupted as security was tightened across the country.

Over the past three days, crude bombs exploded and vehicles were torched in Dhaka and other areas, signaling that political chaos may continue even as the court prepares to deliver its verdict.

As the country braces for the verdict, Hasina’s supporters and the opposition have vowed to challenge the move, while the interim government says it will handle any unrest. The developments come a year after Hasina's ouster and underscore deep political fault lines in a nation already on edge.

With the verdict due November 17 and security on high alert, many Bangladeshis remain watching closely as a court decision tied to a historic political struggle could shape the country’s political landscape for months to come.

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