Bangladesh Plunges into Chaos as Toppled Leader's Party Protests Trial Verdict
The country is reeling from a wave of violence as protests erupt against the trial of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled Bangladesh last year and is now being tried in absentia for crimes against humanity. Her Awami League party has called for a nationwide "lockdown" to protest what it sees as a politically motivated trial.
Schools in Dhaka and other major cities shut down online on Thursday amid widespread disruptions, while 32 crude bomb explosions were reported across the country, with dozens of buses set ablaze. In one incident, a firebomb was thrown at a government office in Gopalganj district, which is Hasina's ancestral home.
Security has been tightened, with checkpoints strengthened and public gatherings restricted. The interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has deployed 400 soldiers from the paramilitary Border Guard across the capital.
Meanwhile, police have arrested dozens of Awami League supporters on suspicion of involvement in explosions and sabotage. Hasina denies any wrongdoing, claiming the trial is a political vendetta.
The violence has claimed at least 1,400 lives, according to the United Nations. The trial verdict, which is expected to be delivered on Monday, will determine the fate of Bangladesh's former leader. If convicted, she faces life imprisonment.
The country is still reeling from a tumultuous period last year when widespread protests were sparked by a government job-quota system. Rights groups have long accused Hasina of human rights abuses during her second premiership, which lasted from 2009 to last August.
Yunus has vowed to restore democracy and end state violence, but critics say his government is still shrouded in secrecy and accountability gaps remain widespread.
As the nation prepares for parliamentary elections next February, a referendum on a national charter signed last month will take place simultaneously. The outcome of both elections will determine the future course of Bangladesh's tumultuous politics.
The country is reeling from a wave of violence as protests erupt against the trial of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled Bangladesh last year and is now being tried in absentia for crimes against humanity. Her Awami League party has called for a nationwide "lockdown" to protest what it sees as a politically motivated trial.
Schools in Dhaka and other major cities shut down online on Thursday amid widespread disruptions, while 32 crude bomb explosions were reported across the country, with dozens of buses set ablaze. In one incident, a firebomb was thrown at a government office in Gopalganj district, which is Hasina's ancestral home.
Security has been tightened, with checkpoints strengthened and public gatherings restricted. The interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has deployed 400 soldiers from the paramilitary Border Guard across the capital.
Meanwhile, police have arrested dozens of Awami League supporters on suspicion of involvement in explosions and sabotage. Hasina denies any wrongdoing, claiming the trial is a political vendetta.
The violence has claimed at least 1,400 lives, according to the United Nations. The trial verdict, which is expected to be delivered on Monday, will determine the fate of Bangladesh's former leader. If convicted, she faces life imprisonment.
The country is still reeling from a tumultuous period last year when widespread protests were sparked by a government job-quota system. Rights groups have long accused Hasina of human rights abuses during her second premiership, which lasted from 2009 to last August.
Yunus has vowed to restore democracy and end state violence, but critics say his government is still shrouded in secrecy and accountability gaps remain widespread.
As the nation prepares for parliamentary elections next February, a referendum on a national charter signed last month will take place simultaneously. The outcome of both elections will determine the future course of Bangladesh's tumultuous politics.
this whole situation is super messed up. i mean, it's like bangladesh can't catch a break. they're still trying to figure out how to deal with all these human rights abuses that went down under hasina's rule, and now she's being tried in absentia for crimes against humanity? it just doesn't seem fair. and the fact that her party is calling for a nationwide lockdown to protest the trial verdict is just crazy talk. i get that people are upset, but violence isn't the answer.
it's like they're stuck in a never-ending loop of protests and violence 
the trial verdict is supposed to come out soon but already 1400 lives have been lost 
i feel so bad for the people living there trying to make ends meet and deal with all this political drama 
the interim gov, muhammad yunus, seems like he's trying to do the right thing but still has a lot of work to do 
it's also super concerning that rights groups have been accusing her of human rights abuses during her time in power 
does anyone know what's going to happen next? will they be able to find some peace and stability?! 
#BangladeshProtests #TrialVerdict #HumanRightsAbuses #PeaceAndStabilityMatters
... and on top of that, the interim government is trying to assert its control while still being pretty secretive themselves 
... it's like they're trying to have their cake and eat it too.
...
The lockdowns are so inconvenient, especially for students who are already struggling with the pandemic 
And what's up with these crude bomb explosions? Are they seriously going to resort to that kind of thing over a trial verdict? 
Can't they just talk it out or something like civilized people? 
but at what cost, you feel? it's not even like Hasina was there to defend herself in person 
anyhoo i'm all for democracy and free speech and all that jazz, but can we pls just get some answers on how this interim government is handling things? 400 soldiers deployed in the capital? sounds like a recipe for disaster 
