Bangladesh braces for disruption ahead of verdict on ex-premier Hasina
Unrest in Bangladesh is ramping up ahead of the upcoming verdict on deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasinan. In reaction to this, Bangladeshi authorities have beefed up security.
Dhaka (dpa) - Authorities in Bangladesh have heightened security in Dhaka and its adjoining districts following a series of violent incidents related to the upcoming verdict on deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, officials said on Wednesday.
Hasina's political party, the Awami League — which has been banned by the interim administration — has announced a nationwide lockdown for Thursday. The move appears to be in protest at what the party calls a "kangaroo court" set up by the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, to try Hasina in absentia. The specialised International Crimes Tribunal is scheduled to set the verdict date on Thursday, with a ruling expected later this month.
Hasina, who was ousted during last year's uprising and is now exiled in India, is accused of crimes against humanity for the brutal suppression of protests. The prosecution has demanded the death penalty for her. According to a UN estimate, last year's government crackdown on month-long protests killed approximately 1,400 people.
Government beefs up security
On Wednesday, the government ordered the deployment of paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troops to strategic locations in Dhaka and the adjoining districts of Narayanganj and Gazipur to maintain public order.
BGB spokesman Shariful Islam told dpa that the troops have been deployed alongside regular police forces to strengthen security in the capital. He did not, however, specify the number of troops involved.
In a separate directive, the government instructed all Bangladeshi airports to deploy a maximum number of security personnel to ensure the safety of passengers and public facilities.
A letter from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh asked its departments to enhance overall fire surveillance to ensure quick emergency response. Authorities in Bangladesh have heightened security in Dhaka and its adjoining districts following a series of violent incidents related to the upcoming verdict on deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, officials said on Wednesday.