Bangladesh on edge: Verdict looms for ex-PM Sheikh Hasina in 2024 uprising case

Hasina, 78, who fled to India amid widespread protests and violence against her Awami League government on August 5, 2024, is being tried in absentia for allegedly ordering a deadly crackdown on student protests. She has denied all wrongdoing.

The verdict, involving Hasina and two other former officials of her ousted government, will be broadcast live, according to Prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim.

“The portion of the verdict that the tribunal will read out, subject to the permission of the tribunal, can be broadcast live by Bangladesh Television, and through them [BTV], by all other media outlets in the country,” he told bdnews24.

A three-member International Crimes Tribunal bench, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, is expected to pronounce the verdict on Monday. The other accused are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.

Ahead of the verdict, two crude bomb explosions occurred on Sunday in Dhaka. One targeted the residence of Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Central Road, while another occurred near the National Citizen Party (NCP) office in Banglamotor.

Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam of DMP's Ramna Division told The Daily Star, “I visited the scene. The crude bombs exploded on the road near Ideal College, while the adviser's residence is located in a nearby alley.” No casualties were reported.