Page 5 - Bangladesh

'No one is above law': Bangladesh Chief Advisor on Hasina's death sentence

Bangladesh's foreign ministry urged India to immediately extradite former PM Sheikh Hasina and ex-home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal after their death sentences for last year's protest crackdown

Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death in Bangladesh: A turning point in Dhaka’s political crisis

A Bangladesh tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity linked to last year’s student protest crackdown. The verdict, delivered in absentia

India committed to Bangladesh's interests, says MEA on Hasina verdict

The MEA response comes hours after Bangladesh urged India to extradite Hasina, who fled the country during violent student protests last year and has remained in India since

Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death; Bangladesh urges India for extradition

After the verdict, Bangladesh asked India to extradite Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, saying New Delhi is obliged to act under the countries' extradition treaty

Verdict made by rigged tribunal: Ex-Bangladesh PM Hasina on death penalty

The tribunal declared Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal as fugitives and decided to hold the entire trial in absentia

Sporadic violence reported as B'desh awaits Hasina's verdict amid security

Bangladesh enforced heightened security across Dhaka and other regions overnight amid sporadic arson and crude bomb attacks ahead of Monday's verdict by a special tribunal against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a case of alleged crimes against humanity. Authorities ordered strict military, paramilitary and police vigil after reports that Hasina's now-disbanded Awami League had announced a two-day shutdown ahead of the International Crimes TribunalBangladesh (ICT-BD) verdict. Unidentified people on Sunday night set on fire the vehicle dumping corner of a police station complex and detonated two crude bombs outside the residence of an advisory council member of interim government chief Professor Muhammad Yunus, besides triggering explosions at several intersections in the capital. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) asked its personnel to shoot violent protesters on sight as tensions spiralled. ICT-BD prosecutors have sought the death penalty for Hasina, 78. I stated over the .

Bangladesh's special tribunal to deliver verdict against deposed PM Hasina

A tribunal in Bangladesh is set to deliver its verdict on Monday in a case against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is being tried in absentia, over alleged crimes against humanity committed during last year's student-led agitation that led to the fall of her Awami League government. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD), which, according to Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim, is expected to sit at 11:00 am, will also deliver its verdict against Hasina's two aides, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, over the same charges. Prosecutors have sought the death penalty for the accused. Hasina, 78, faces multiple charges after being ousted in August 2024 following the mass student-led agitation. A UN rights office report estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15 during what came to be known as the July Uprising, as her government ordered a sweeping security crackdown. Hasina,

Bangladesh steps up security ahead of tribunal's verdict against Hasina

Security agencies are on high alert in Bangladesh ahead of a special tribunal's verdict in a case against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the anti-government protests last year. "The law enforcement agencies have already completed their necessary preparations to prevent unpleasant events across the country, Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury was quoted as saying by the state-run BSS news agency. Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) will deliver the verdict against 78-year-old Hasina on Monday. Hasina, her home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and then inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were accused of committing crimes under five counts, with the first one alleging the defendants of murder, attempted murder, torture, and other inhumane acts. They were tried in the tribunal. The ex-premier and Kamal were tried in absentia, with the court declaring them fugitives. Mamun faced the tri

Bangladesh on alert as tribunal sets verdict date for deposed PM Hasina

The Bangladesh capital on Thursday woke up to heightened security vigil over the Dhaka lockdown call by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's now disbanded Awami League, coinciding with a tribunal's planned announcement of a verdict date against her. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) is set to go ahead with its scheduled task, a prosecution team member of the special court briefly said. Authorities called up army troops, paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police in riot gear to spread a security blanket in and around the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) complex, while their security vigil amid the Awami League prompted thousands to stay indoors. Witnesses and reports said Dhaka streets looked unusually empty, though many commuters stepped out of their homes and cautiously headed to workplaces and schools. However, many private institutions, including universities, preferred to operate online, fearing the outbreak of violence. "We are hearing all kinds o

Special Bangladeshi tribunal to deliver verdict against Hasina on Nov 17

Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) on Thursday announced it would deliver the verdict against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina on November 17 in a case over crimes against humanity. The three-judge tribunal set Nov 17 for delivering the verdict, a journalist attending the tightly secured special court in the capital told PTI. Hasina, her home minister in the ousted Awami League government, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and then inspector general of police (IGP) or police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were tried in the tribunal, where the ex-premier and Kamal were tried in absentia, with the court declaring them fugitives. The then police chief faced the trial in person but emerged as an approver, admitting his own role and describing the role of the two co-accused in taming last year's student-led street movement called July Uprising. Mamun appeared on the dock as the ICT-BD chair Justice Mohammad Golam Mortuza Majumder fixed the date.

Democracy key condition for my return to Bangladesh, says Sheikh Hasina

Ousted former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said her return home hinges on the restoration of "participatory democracy", lifting of the ban on the Awami League and the conduct of free, fair and inclusive elections. In an exclusive email interview to PTI from an undisclosed location in India, Hasina also accused the unelected Yunus administration of "endangering ties with India and empowering extremist forces". Contrasting her foreign policy with that of the current interim government, she said the broad and deep relationship between Dhaka and New Delhi should be able to withstand the "foolhardiness of the Yunus interlude. Hasina thanked the Indian government for providing her refuge and said she was immensely grateful to India's government and its people for their kind hospitality. The most important condition for my return to Bangladesh is the same condition that the Bangladeshi people require: a return to participatory democracy. The interim administration must resc

Bangladesh says Adani deal could be scrapped if irregularities found

Bangladesh's interim government has said that it will not hesitate to cancel an existing power contract with India's Adani group if any irregularities or corruption are proven. The 2017 power supply deal between Adani Power and Bangladesh had come in for scrutiny after the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led government last year. The contracts (generally) state that no corruption has occurred, but if proven otherwise, cancellation is possible, Energy Affairs Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan was quoted as saying by local media. The adviser was reacting to an interim report submitted by a National Review Committee, which was formed to review the power sector contracts by the Hasina regime. There was no immediate reaction from the Adani group on the adviser's comments. The National Review Committee, headed by retired High Court judge Moinul Islam Chowdhury, recently submitted its interim report on alleged corruption during deals inked under the Hasina regime. The committee is expected

Assam CM orders police action after Bangladesh anthem sung at Congress meet

This is a blatant insult to the people of India and aligns with recent assertions by certain Bangladesh citizens that the North-East will eventually belong to Bangladesh, Sarma said

Yunus warns of internal, external attempts to thwart Bangladesh polls

Bangladesh's interim government chief Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said he feared forces from home and abroad to thwart planned general elections over debarring deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League from contesting. Many forces from inside and outside the country will work to spoil the election. Many powerful forces, not minor ones, will attempt to thwart it. Sudden attacks may come, Yunus's press secretary Shafiqul Alam quoted him as saying at a high-level meeting on election preparedness. Chief Adviser Yunus, he said, told the meeting that the election will be challenging as various types of propaganda will be carried out in a planned manner from inside and outside the country. Yunus said AI-generated images and videos would also circulate online and on social media platforms, stressing immediate action to prevent the spread of such content. We must overcome them (obstacles), 85-year-old Yunus was quoted as saying. His comments coincided with Hasina's interview with

Bangladesh court to deliver verdict on Hasina's alleged crimes on Nov 13

Former PM Sheikh Hasina is facing trial for crimes against humanity for allegedly being part of torturing multiple people and orchestrating disappearances during the Awami League regime

Bangladesh garment exporters fear $1 bn losses after massive airport fire

The blaze, which erupted on Saturday in the airport's cargo import section, destroyed large volumes of imported raw materials, finished garments, and vital product samples

Major fire breaks out at Dhaka airport, flight operations suspended

There were no immediate reports of casualties; units from the Bangladesh Fire Service, Civil Aviation Authority, the Bangladesh Air Force and the Navy were jointly battling the fire

9 killed in fire at garment factory and chemical warehouse in Bangladesh

At least nine workers were killed and eight others injured on Tuesday in a fire that broke out at a garment factory and a chemical warehouse in Bangladesh capital, officials said. The devastating fire broke out at a chemical warehouse next to the garment factory, Talha Bin Jasim, an officer at the Fire Service and Civil Defence Media Wing, was quoted as saying by the state-run BSS news agency. Nine bodies have been recovered from the first and second floors of the garment factory, Fire Service and Civil Defence Director (Operation and Maintenance) Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters. "We suspect that all of them have died after inhaling toxic gas, Chowdhury was quoted as saying by Bangla language daily Prothom Alo. He added that the fire was brought under control, and firefighters are conducting searches at the garment factory. The number might go up, Talha Bin Jasim said. He said they received the report of the fire at 11:40 am (local time), and the first team .

India ready to work with any govt in Bangladesh chosen by its people: Misri

India is firmly in favour of holding free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh at the earliest and it is ready to work with any government chosen by the people in the polls, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Monday. Misri also said that India has a stake in the peace, progress and stability of Bangladesh. The foreign secretary made the remarks while interacting with a group of visiting journalists from Bangladesh. "We will work with any government that emerges through the mandate of the people of Bangladesh," Misri said. Bangladesh's interim government has already announced that parliamentary elections in the country will be held in February next year. "I want to be very, very clear that India is firmly in favour of free, fair, inclusive and participatory elections in Bangladesh and it is in favour of these elections being held at the earliest possible time," he said. "We are encouraged by the fact that Bangladeshi authorities themselves have spoken about a timeframe

India rejects Bangladesh claim of its role in Khagrachhari clashes

India on Friday trashed as "false and baseless" a senior Bangladeshi official's claim of its involvement in violent clashes in Bangladesh. Following the clashes at Khagrachhari district in Chittagong Hill Tracts in southwestern Bangladesh last week, de-facto home minister Jahangir Alam Chowdhury alleged that the unrest was being fuelled by India. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India categorically rejects these "false and baseless allegations". "The interim government, which is unable to maintain law and order in Bangladesh, has routinely sought to shift the blame elsewhere," he said. "It would do well to introspect and conduct serious investigations into the action of local extremists committing violence, arson and land grab against the minority communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts," he added. Jaiswal was responding to a question on Chowdhury's remarks during a weekly media briefing. There has been a sharp downturn in India-Bangladesh relations a