- By Supratik Das
- Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:09 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Ahead of the high-stakes verdict that could reshape Bangladesh’s political landscape, Sajeeb Wazed, the son and long-time adviser of Sheikh Hasina, escalated his criticism of the interim administration on Sunday, saying the verdict against his mother was “pre-decided from day one” and part of what he described as a larger effort to “erase the Awami League from Bangladesh’s political map.”
Speaking to Reuters, Wazed said the International Crimes Tribunal had “never functioned as an independent court” in the current climate, claiming that investigators, witnesses and even the timeline of hearings were “shaped to produce exactly one outcome.”
Court Verdict Expected Today
A Dhaka court is due to deliver its ruling on Monday in a case linked to last year’s deadly protests, during which a UN report estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed and thousands injured, most from security forces’ gunfire. It was the deadliest political violence the country has seen since the 1971 Liberation War.
Wazed said he had “no doubt” that the tribunal’s ruling would be the harshest possible. “They want to end my mother’s chapter entirely. They don’t just want a conviction. They want a sentence that removes her permanently from politics,” he told Reuters. “They will probably sentence her to death because that is the only way they think they can stop her influence.”
Wazed also reaffirmed that the family would not file an appeal unless a democratically elected government took office. “Appealing to a system built on intimidation and political engineering is pointless,” he said. “We will only return to the legal process when the legal process is legitimate.”
Though the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has rejected allegations of political interference, saying the tribunal has functioned transparently and allowed observers throughout the process.
Awami League Threatens Election Blockade
Wazed warned that the Awami League, whose registration was suspended in May would not accept an election without its participation. “Our protests are going to get stronger and stronger. Unless the international community steps in, there will probably be violence before these elections,” he said.
Tension has already escalated in the capital and surrounding districts ahead of the verdict. Multiple crude bomb explosions were reported on Sunday, following more than 30 blasts on November 12. Dozens of buses have been torched in recent days, and police have detained suspected Awami League supporters over alleged sabotage.
More than 400 Border Guard personnel have been deployed, checkpoints reinforced, and public gatherings restricted. The Awami League has also called a two-day nationwide shutdown, disrupting daily life across Dhaka.
He claimed that these were “just the beginning” and insisted the movement had “organic strength,” not just party mobilisation. “People know this process is a farce. They know the government is terrified of a real election,” he said.
Wazed also urged foreign governments and global institutions to step in before the situation “crosses a point of no return.” “Unless the international community intervenes, there will be violence. That’s not a threat, that’s the reality we are heading toward,” he said. He accused the interim government of using “state machinery, the army, police, intelligence, everything” to suppress political opponents. “This is not a transition. This is a takeover dressed up as reform,” he said.
Despite the looming verdict, Wazed said Hasina remained protected under India’s security umbrella. “She is safe. They cannot touch her. India has given her the respect and protection of a head of state,” he said. However, he said the real danger lay in Bangladesh’s trajectory. “My mother’s safety is assured. Bangladesh’s safety is not. The country is bleeding politically and economically, and they are pushing it towards a dark period.”