Bangladesh has been hit by a new wave of violence ahead of a major court verdict against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Over the past two days, there have been several incidents of arson and crude bomb attacks across the country, reminding people of the violent student protests of 2024 that killed more than 500 people and injured hundreds.

On Thursday, the capital city Dhaka turned into a fortress. Heavy security was deployed, with both police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) patrolling the streets. Multiple checkpoints were set up at the city’s entry points, and vehicles were being thoroughly checked. Local media reported that Dhaka’s usually busy roads were unusually quiet, with traffic reduced to less than half its normal volume.

Security has been tightened around the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), which will announce its verdict on November 17 in a case of crimes against humanity involving Hasina and her top aides. The former prime minister, who fled to India in August 2024 after being ousted, faces several charges, including murder and conspiracy.

The latest violence has brought daily life to a halt. Attacks have spread beyond Dhaka to cities like Gazipur and Brahmanbaria. In Brahmanbaria, a branch of Grameen Bank, founded by Nobel laureate and current interim leader Muhammad Yunus, was set on fire, destroying all furniture and documents. Several buses were also burned in and around Dhaka, including one in a crowded market area. Miscreants even set a train coach on fire in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

Reports said bomb blasts occurred at around 17 locations, including one near Dhaka University, injuring three people. A shopping mall and a ground where a documentary was being screened were also attacked. Police have arrested 44 members of the banned Awami League, the party led by Hasina, and recovered a large number of crude bombs and petrol bombs from a house near Dhaka.

The situation has worsened as Bangladesh prepares for national elections in early 2026. Recently, Hasina’s interviews with Indian media angered the current Yunus-led interim government, which has already asked India to extradite her, a request India has not acted on.

Hasina faces five main charges linked to the 2024 student protests that led to her government’s fall. These include murder, torture, and the use of deadly force against unarmed students. She is also accused of making provocative statements that fueled the unrest.  As Bangladesh awaits the November 17 verdict, tension is running high. The renewed violence has brought back painful memories of the deadly clashes that shook the country last year, leaving the nation on edge once again.