When will the verdict in the case against Sheikh Hasina be announced: Excitement and context surrounding today's announcement
Dhaka, November 13, 2025:Unprecedented security measures have been taken in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, and in various parts of the country today. Why? The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) will set a date for announcing the verdict in the ongoing crimes against humanity case against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates on Thursday afternoon. The announcement is not just a legal event, but could be the beginning of a storm in the country's political and social life. Opposition groups led by the Awami League have taken to the streets calling for a 'heart lockdown', which has destabilized the country. The government's interim administration has requested the deployment of the army, and police, RAB and BGB members are scattered at major intersections in Dhaka.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the background of this case, the significance of today's announcement, the security arrangements, the political implications, and the international reaction. This is not just a news story, but the story of a turning point in the history of Bangladesh.
Background of the case: The bloody chapter of the July-August uprising
In July-August 2024, a mass uprising in Bangladesh that emerged from an anti-discrimination student movement transformed the country's politics. During the movement, at least 1,400 people were killed in shootings, lathicharges and torture by police, RAB and Awami League organized groups under the direction of the government. According to a United Nations report, the killings were "coordinated and systematic", which amounted to crimes against humanity. The ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Director General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were accused of responsibility for the incident.
The case began on June 1, 2025. The prosecution brought five main charges:
Provocation and murder:Orders to use lethal weapons against protesters.
Killing of Abu Saeed:A student was shot dead by police.
Chankharpul massacre:A large number of people were killed in an area of the capital.
Cremation of bodies in Ashulia:Allegations of burning the bodies of the victims to hide them.
Superior Command Responsibility:Inability of top leadership to avoid responsibility.
The indictment is 8,747 pages long, including 2,018 pages of references and 4,005 pages of evidence. 203 witnesses testified during the trial, one of whom was Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. He pleaded guilty and gave a deposition as a public witness, in which he said, "The allegations of murder and genocide against us during the July-August movement are true. I plead guilty." This testimony has become a major weapon for the prosecution.
The three-judge panel is headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, along with Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury. Prosecution chiefs Mohammad Tajul Islam and Mizanul Islam have demanded the death penalty for Sheikh Hasina and Kamal. On the other hand, state-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain denied the charges and demanded an acquittal, saying, "Sheikh Hasina did not leave the country, she was forced to. She said, 'If necessary, kill me on this soil, I will not go.'"
Today's announcement: When will the verdict date be known?
Today's hearing is only to set the date for the verdict. After the conclusion of arguments on October 23, the tribunal had said, "The verdict date will be announced shortly." Prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim said, "The verdict may be in another week, but November 13 is the date for setting the date." This is the first murder case against Sheikh Hasina, which has created tension among her supporters even after the Awami League was banned.
Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India and has defied the tribunal's summons, has called the trial a "legal farce." As a result, the trial is being held in absentia, which is legal under international standards.
Security measures: Dhaka has become a 'fortress'
Since this morning, major intersections in Dhaka—Mirpur, Uttara, Gulshan, Dhanmondi—have been filled with police barricades. RAB teams are patrolling, and BGB is deployed in the border areas. The Supreme Court has written to the Army Headquarters requesting the deployment of troops in the tribunal area. In the past few days, 12 buses have been set on fire and improvised explosive devices have been detonated by Awami League supporters. Police CCTV footage has identified Awami League leaders who are inciting violence through Facebook.
Awami League social media posts say, "November 13 is Bangladesh's Unity Day—Enough is Enough." It is a 'dawn-to-dusk lockdown', which includes flash mobs and protests. As a result, Dhaka has been cut off from various parts.
Political impact: Will touch the future of the country
The verdict is a milestone in Bangladeshi politics. If Sheikh Hasina is found guilty, the Awami League's leadership vacuum will deepen. The administration, led by Muhammad Yunus, the interim government's chief adviser, is calling the trial a "victory for justice." But Awami League supporters are calling it "political vendetta."
In addition, two other cases against Sheikh Hasina are pending in the ICT: one on charges of disappearance and murder (during the 15-year rule of the Awami League), and the other on the killings at a 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam rally. These verdicts will affect the country's electoral process and stability.
International reaction: India's discomfort, world's attention
The Indian government is wary of the trial, as Sheikh Hasina has sought refuge in India. While there has been no official comment from Delhi, media reports have said, "This is an internal matter for Bangladesh, but stability is our concern." The United Nations and Human Rights Watch have called the trial "historic" but have called for impartiality. Support has come from Malaysia and other Muslim countries for the protesters.
Bangladesh's journey towards justice
Today’s announcement is not just a date-setting, but a test of Bangladesh’s democratic journey. The memory of the martyrs who lay on the bloody streets of July will immortalize this case. If the verdict is a death sentence, it will be comparable to the trials of other former world leaders (such as Slobodan Milosevic or Saddam Hussein). But whatever the outcome, it will lead the country into a new chapter—one where, whether justice triumphs or not, the voice of the people will ultimately prevail.
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