Bangladesh on edge ahead of International Crimes Tribunal’s Sheikh Hasina verdict

New Delhi: Awami League (AL), Bangladesh’s oldest political party banned from contesting the February general elections, has raised the stakes against the interim government led by Muhammad Younis.

The party announced last week that it would intensify its protests against the Yunus regime.

The Awami League’s decision comes ahead of the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal’s verdict on Monday in the case against deposed prime minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina for crimes allegedly committed during anti-government protests last year. The hearing took place in his absence.
Before the decision, local security agencies in the country were on high alert.

“Law enforcement agencies have already completed the necessary preparations to prevent unpleasant incidents,” domestic legal advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, according to the state-run BSS news agency. Younis is under pressure after he announced a referendum along with the polls at the request of the pro-Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami.