Multiple Crude Bomb Blasts Rock Dhaka Ahead of Verdict in Sheikh Hasina Case

Several crude bombs exploded in Dhaka on Sunday, police said, intensifying tensions ahead of Monday’s verdict in a case against ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over last year’s protest-related violence.

No injuries were reported, but the explosions added to the anxiety gripping the capital after days of political unrest.

Hasina, 78, is being tried in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity for allegedly ordering a deadly crackdown on student protesters in mid-2024. She has denied the allegations and has been in India since fleeing there following her ouster in August 2024.

According to local media, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner has instructed officers to open fire on anyone involved in arson or in attempts to cause death by hurling crude bombs.

Security has been tightened across Dhaka, in Gopalganj — Hasina’s ancestral district and a stronghold of the Awami League — and in two adjoining districts. Border Guard Bangladesh personnel have been deployed to support local authorities.

Police and Rapid Action Battalion units have been stationed around key government installations and major intersections, leaving parts of the capital eerily quiet.

“It’s very tense — hardly anyone is coming out,” said Ramjan Ali, an autorickshaw driver. “I’ve been on the road since morning, but I’ve barely earned anything today.”

In the days leading up to the verdict, authorities reported more than 30 crude bomb blasts and dozens of buses torched in Dhaka and other districts. Dozens of Awami League activists have also been arrested over alleged involvement in explosions and sabotage.