DHAKA: The verdict on the war crimes trial of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed is set to be delivered on Nov 17.
The charges against Hasina include crimes against humanity, specifically related to the violent crackdown on student protests in 2024, which led to widespread casualties.
The prosecution has called for the death penalty, accusing Hasina of ordering a brutal suppression of demonstrations that resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 individuals, according to United Nations reports. The protests, which were largely student-led, were met with excessive force, and Hasina’s role in orchestrating the response is at the heart of the trial.
As the verdict looms, Bangladesh is on edge. Protests have erupted nationwide, with Hasina’s political party, the Awami League, declaring a countrywide “lockdown” in defiance of the trial’s outcome. Hundreds of protesters have been detained by authorities, and there are widespread fears of further unrest.
In response to growing tensions, the Bangladeshi government has enhanced security measures, deploying 400 soldiers to the capital, Dhaka, in an effort to maintain order. The decision to station military personnel underscores the gravity of the situation, with many expecting that the verdict will spark further violence or political instability.
