Bangladesh braces for disruptions as Awami League requires lockdown to protest Hasina trial

Classes and transportation in Bangladesh have been severely disrupted on Thursday (November 13, 2025) as ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her former ruling Awami League get together known as for a nationwide “lockdown” in protest towards her trial over final 12 months’s protests that left a whole bunch lifeless.

A particular tribunal in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, was attributable to announce a date for the decision towards Ms. Hasina, who’s dealing with expenses of crimes towards humanity involving a crackdown on the student-led rebellion that ended her 15-year rule. She has been in exile in India since.

Schools in Dhaka and main cities throughout Bangladesh switched to on-line courses and examinations whereas public transportation was severely disrupted on Thursday (November 13, 2025) because the interim authorities heightened safety throughout the nation.

The improvement has sparked stress within the South Asian nation with the now-banned Awami League get together urging its supporters and others to protest whereas the federal government and Opposition to Ms. Hasina vowed to cease them.

Explosions of crude bombs and the torching of autos have been reported over the past three days in Dhaka and elsewhere, indicating that political chaos will proceed within the nation, which has a historical past of political violence.

On Wednesday (November 12, 2025) night, arson was reported on a prepare and a bus in Dhaka, and crude bombs went off earlier within the day on the Dhaka University campus.

Bangladesh’s interim chief, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, will deal with the nation on Thursday (November 13, 2025) afternoon, his press workplace stated. Mr. Yunus took over as the pinnacle of an interim authorities three days after Hasina’s fall on Aug. 5 final 12 months, and vowed to punish her.

On Thursday (November 13, 2025) morning, troopers together with different safety businesses have been deployed to protect the premises of the particular tribunal, which is because of announce the day of the decision in a case that additionally includes former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. Al-Mamun is an “approver” within the case, which suggests he pleaded responsible and have become a state witness towards Hasina.

Al-Mamun was delivered to the tribunal amid tight safety whereas Mr. Khan can be believed to be in India. Both Ms. Hasina and Mr. Khan are being tried in absentia.

Ms. Hasina was ousted on Aug. 5 final 12 months after weeks of violence that left a whole bunch lifeless. The interim authorities pledged that parliamentary elections could be held in February, however Hasina’s Awami League has launched a marketing campaign towards the election, primarily on social media, if they aren’t allowed to take part.

The get together has known as the tribunal, which is dealing with the fees towards Hasina, a “kangaroo court docket.” Ms. Hasina has not appointed a lawyer and denounced the appointment of a lawyer by the state to symbolize her.

Last month, the tribunal’s chief prosecutor, Tajul Islam, sought the demise penalty for Hasina. In his arguments, Islam known as her the “mastermind and principal architect” behind the crimes towards humanity dedicated in the course of the rebellion.

The United Nations in a February report stated as much as 1,400 folks could have been killed within the violence, whereas the nation’s well being adviser underneath the interim authorities stated greater than 800 folks have been killed and about 14,000 have been injured.

Ms. Hasina disputed the figures and demanded an impartial investigation.

In one other improvement, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday (November 12, 2025) summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka Pawan Badhe to formally convey its considerations over India permitting “fugitive” Ms. Hasina to work together with mainstream Indian media.

Many Indian shops printed interviews with Ms. Hasina in current weeks that apparently irked Bangladesh’s present authorities.

Ms. Hasina in her interviews accused Mr. Yunus of backing Islamists and violating human and political rights, particularly of her supporters. The Yunus-led administration has banned all actions of Ms. Hasina’s get together. In her interviews, Ms. Hasina vowed to battle again, together with her son in an interview with the Associated Press saying that solely an inclusive election might stabilize the nation.