The verdict in the case accusing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina of crimes against humanity during the July mass uprising is set to be announced on Monday, plunging the capital into a state of high alert and dramatically slowing down public life a bit.
Since early this morning, the International Crimes Tribunal and the surrounding judicial areas have been placed under a strict, multi-layered security blanket. On-site observations confirm a heavy deployment of security forces around the Supreme Court premises.
Army personnel were stationed near the Mazar Gate, while police, RAB, and BGB forces patrolled both inside and outside the tribunal, conducting extensive searches and interrogations of suspicious individuals.
Compared to other days, pedestrian and commuter activity across the capital is noticeably subdued, with a concentration of office workers and long-distance travelers.
At the Kamalapur Railway Station, the usual rush of passengers was diminished. Nazir Ali, a traveler bound for Rajshahi, noted that while the crowd seemed slightly larger than on previous dates of tension, it was far less than a regular day.
“Almost everyone is staying home today, awaiting Hasina’s verdict,” he said. “This is a historic day.”
In the Farmgate area, a massive police presence was observed near the Ananda Cinema Hall, backed by an APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier). Sadekur Rahman, a motorcycle driver waiting for fares nearby, confirmed the scarcity of passengers.
“People are less inclined to travel today, perhaps fearing that Awami League supporters might attempt acts of sabotage surrounding the former Prime Minister’s trial,” he said.
Despite the heavy security, a focal point of public attention is the University of Dhaka’s TSC (Teacher-Student Centre), where the tribunal’s verdict announcement is being shown on a large screen.
Crowds of onlookers and activists have gathered since the morning.
Sagar Jahan, who traveled from Namapara to watch the proceedings with friends, was an active participant in the July movement.
Describing the atmosphere as “festive,” he stated, “The killer of hundreds of people will finally face justice today. I demand Hasina’s execution.” He also reiterated the call for Sheikh Hasina to be brought back to the country to face her sentence.
The judgment will be delivered by the three-member bench led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder. During previous hearings, the prosecution claimed that Sheikh Hasina was the mastermind, order-giver, and superior commander responsible for the alleged crimes committed during the uprising.
