DHAKA, Bangladesh — A day after a dramatic court ruling shook the nation’s political landscape, Bangladesh’s capital and other major cities remained largely calm on Tuesday, despite a nationwide shutdown call issued by the former ruling party of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The relative calm followed a turbulent Monday, when the International Crimes Tribunal delivered death sentences in absentia to Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan. The court held both leaders responsible for authorizing deadly force against student protesters during last year’s uprising — an episode that fueled months of political unrest and ultimately led to the collapse of Hasina’s government.
The Awami League, Hasina’s former ruling party, immediately rejected the verdict, condemning the tribunal’s process as “a kangaroo court” and urging supporters to enforce a nationwide shutdown on Tuesday. Their appeal came amid rising tensions, as clashes broke out late Monday between Hasina’s loyalists and security forces in several districts.
In some areas, confrontations escalated sharply. Protesters attempted to use excavators to demolish the historic home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman — the nation’s founding father and Hasina’s late father. Local media also reported that the residence of former President Abdul Hamid, a senior Awami League figure, was vandalized in the northeastern Kishoreganj district.
Despite the previous night’s unrest, Tuesday unfolded with an unexpected sense of normalcy. Shops, offices, and schools remained open, public transport operated smoothly, and daily activities continued across Dhaka and other major cities. While the shutdown call appeared to lose momentum, a sense of uncertainty lingered among residents.
Many citizens voiced concerns about the political future of the South Asian nation of 170 million people. Bangladesh, a parliamentary democracy long shaped by fierce political rivalries, now faces renewed questions about stability, justice, and the potential for further unrest following the tribunal’s ruling.
