Deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken a defiant stance ahead of a crucial verdict by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), stating she does not care about the court’s decision on allegations of crimes against humanity committed during her 15-year rule. In an audio message addressed to her supporters, the 78-year-old Awami League leader denied the charges, blamed chief adviser Muhammad Yunus for the country’s political turmoil, and reiterated her commitment to her people.
The statement came just hours before the ICT prepared to deliver its verdict on accusations linked to Hasina’s dramatic flight to India last year during deadly anti-government protests. The prosecution is seeking the death penalty, and Hasina-still in New Delhi-has been tried in absentia along with former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Despite being summoned by the Dhaka court, she refused to appear.
“Let them announce whatever decision they want. I do not care. Allah gave me this life, and only He can take it away. I will continue serving my people,” Hasina declared in her audio message released on Sunday.
She accused the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus of orchestrating a systematic effort to “finish off” the Awami League after branding it a “terrorist organization” over violent clashes during last year’s uprising.
“There is no power play here. The Awami League grew from the grassroots, not from the pocket of an usurper,” she said, sharply criticizing the current regime.
Hasina further alleged that Yunus’s government was protecting offenders involved in the killing of police personnel, journalists, lawyers, and Awami League activists. She said these individuals were granted political amnesty, “closing the doors of justice” for families of the victims.
Prosecutors confirmed that segments of the verdict will be livestreamed on the ICT-BD official Facebook page and televised on state-run BTV. Under ICT-BD law, Hasina may only file an appeal if she is arrested or voluntarily surrenders within 30 days. Interim government adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury stated that the verdict “will be executed” regardless of its outcome.
Responding to allegations of Human Rights violations under her administration, Hasina defended her record by highlighting Bangladesh’s sheltering of 10 lakh Rohingya refugees. She accused critics of hypocrisy, asserting they ignored her government’s humanitarian efforts.
Hasina spoke emotionally about her personal tragedies, including the destruction of her family home and the murders of her parents and brothers. “They burned down my home, but I will keep working for the people of my country,” she said.
She encouraged her supporters to remain resilient. “Do not worry. We will not forget anything. Everything will be accounted for. I will return, insha’Allah.”
Hasina recalled brutal incidents during the unrest, including an attack on a nurse. “I heard that Salima Begum was a nurse. Instead of saving lives, she was assaulted. This is hooliganism. I urge you to find her and help her. I cannot imagine how women are being treated under Yunus’s regime,” she said.
The ousted leader urged Awami League members to remain calm irrespective of the court’s decision. “Do not worry. I know how much you are suffering. This suffering will end soon. It is only a matter of time. We will never forget the crimes against humanity, and we will consider everything.”
Hasina insisted that Bangladesh had reached unprecedented economic and developmental heights during her 15 years in power. She accused Yunus’s “authoritarian and terrorist regime” of plunging the country into unemployment, industrial shutdowns, and financial instability.
“Workers are jobless. Young people cannot find work. Production has stopped. Businesses have shut down. Banks are being looted. We must save Bangladesh from this disaster,” she warned.
Estimates of deaths during the unrest vary widely. A February United Nations report suggested up to 1,400 fatalities, while Bangladesh’s health adviser cited around 800 deaths and nearly 14,000 injuries. Hasina disputed these figures and demanded an independent Investigation.
Dhaka Turns Into a Fortress Ahead of Verdict
Dhaka, usually choked with weekday traffic, awoke to empty streets and heavily guarded checkpoints. A tense silence followed a night of sporadic arson attacks and crude bomb blasts.
Unidentified assailants detonated two improvised bombs near the home of a Yunus advisory council member and set fire to a vehicle yard adjacent to a police station. Multiple blasts were also reported in key intersections across the capital.
Similar scenes of deserted streets and heightened security were reported in Rangpur, Chattogram, and other regions as authorities prepared for possible unrest following the outlawed Awami League’s call for a two-day shutdown.
Security forces-including the military, paramilitary units, and police-were deployed across major choke points. Armored vehicles, water cannons, and riot-control units from the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police guarded strategic areas. Checkpoints screened all vehicles entering and leaving Dhaka.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) issued shoot-at-sight orders for aggressive demonstrators. The city has witnessed several predawn explosions since November 10, including coordinated attacks on multiple Grameen Bank outlets and a targeted blast at the bank’s Mirpur headquarters.
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