Bangladesh has witnessed a surge in unrest following the death sentence handed down to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity.

Hasina, who was convicted in absentia by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for her role in the violent suppression of student-led protests in 2024, continues to remain in exile in India, complicating the implementation of the sentence.

In the wake of the verdict, several rallies took place in Dhaka and other parts of the country, with Hasina’s supporters and critics staging protests. Security in the capital has been tightened, and there have been reports of crude-bomb explosions and arson attacks in the days following the ruling.

While authorities have managed to prevent large-scale violence, tensions remain high.

Hasina’s supporters argue that the trial was politically motivated, asserting that the charges against her were part of an effort to weaken the Awami League, her political party. They also criticized the trial as a violation of her right to a fair hearing.

In contrast, her critics hailed the ruling as a long-overdue reckoning for the deaths of more than 1,400 protesters during the protests last year.

With parliamentary elections scheduled for February 2026, the unrest over the verdict adds to the already volatile political atmosphere in Bangladesh. The interim government, led by economist Muhammad Yunus, has urged calm and vowed to ensure a peaceful electoral process.