Bangladesh is on the verge of severe unrest. Today, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be sentenced by the International Crime Tribunal for her alleged crimes. This verdict will be broadcasted live on large screens in Dhaka and accessible on Facebook. Tensions are running high across Bangladesh, as Mohammed Yunus' government has issued a shoot-at-sight directive for anyone involved in violence or arson.
Sheikh Hasina's party has been banned, preventing them from running in elections. In an emotional audio message, Sheikh Hasina declared,
"Those who commit injustice will one day face the people's justice in Bengal. There is no need to fear. I am alive and will continue to support the people of the nation. Inshallah, I will bring these criminals to justice on Bengal's soil."
78-year-old Sheikh Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed, warned that if the ban on their party is not lifted, their supporters will disrupt the upcoming national elections in February. He cautioned that protests could escalate into violence.
Sajeeb Wazed added,
"We know what the verdict will be. They are showing it on TV. They will find her guilty, and she may be sentenced to death."
The government prosecutor has indeed demanded the death penalty for the 78-year-old Hasina.
Speaking from Washington, D.C., Wazed declared, "What can they do to my mother? She is safely in India, where she receives complete security."
Attack on Yunus' Advisor's Residence
Reports from Bangladesh indicate widespread violence and protests. In Dhaka, crude bombs were used to attack the residence of Mohammed Yunus' advisor, Syed Rizwana Hasan. Arson incidents have also been reported.
Source: aajtak
Violence has also been reported in Cox's Bazar, where supporters of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League have been causing disturbances. Riots and clashes have erupted in several cities.
Shoot-at-Sight in Bangladesh
As the verdict against Sheikh Hasina looms, sporadic arson and homemade bomb attacks have led to heightened security in Dhaka and other areas.
Before the International Crime Tribunal-Bangladesh announces its decision, heightened military, paramilitary, and police vigilance has been ordered in response to reports of a two-day shutdown called by the now-dissolved Awami League.
Unknown assailants set fire to a vehicle dump at a police station complex and detonated two homemade bombs outside the residence of a member of interim government head Professor Mohammed Yunus' advisory council. Numerous blasts have occurred at intersections across the capital.
Source: aajtak
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police have authorized officers to shoot violent demonstrators on sight.
S.M. Sajjat Ali, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner, stated late on Sunday, "I have instructed via wireless that anyone setting fire to a bus or hurling homemade bombs with intent to kill should be shot. This authority is clearly provided by our law."
Since November 10, several covert attacks have occurred in Dhaka, including a homemade bomb explosion at the entrance of the Grameen Bank headquarters, founded by Yunus, in Mirpur.
Authorities have reported that several branches of the bank have also been targeted with petrol bombs and arson.
In another incident last week, unknown attackers set several buses on fire, leading to the death of a driver sleeping inside one of the vehicles.
Who Else Stands Accused Besides Sheikh Hasina?
There are three defendants in this high-profile Bangladeshi case. Sheikh Hasina is currently living in exile in India. The second accused is former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and the third is former Police Chief Abdullah Al Mamun, who personally faced trial and sought leniency by becoming a "state witness."
On Sunday, government lawyer Ghazi M.H. Tameem said, "We have demanded the harshest possible sentence for Hasina. We have also requested the confiscation of the guilty's assets to be distributed to the victims' families of last year's violent street protests."
The government lawyers have confirmed that the verdict will be broadcast live on state-run BTV and shown on large screens at several locations in Dhaka.
What Are the Charges Against Sheikh Hasina?
Former PM Sheikh Hasina was removed from power in 2024 during the student-led July uprising. The International Crimes Tribunal-Bangladesh (ICT-BD) has charged her with five major crimes against humanity. These charges are primarily related to the alleged suppression during July-August 2024 protests, which resulted in an estimated 1,400 deaths. The tribunal formally framed these charges on July 10, 2025, and Hasina was tried in her absence.
Hasina faces charges of murder, attempted murder, torture, and other inhumane acts. Following her press briefing on July 14, 2024, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Police Chief Chaudhary Abdullah Al-Mamun allegedly incited attacks on unarmed student protesters, including the close-range shooting of activist Abu Saed.
During this period, the government ordered the use of deadly weapons, helicopters, and drones to suppress student protests, involving superior command responsibility, conspiracy, aiding, and abetting.
