Supporters of opposition groups including NCP, Chhatra Dal, and Shibir held a celebratory rally and distributed sweets in Raipur, Lakshmipur, following the International Crimes Tribunal’s verdict sentencing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July Movement. The event took place on Monday night at Raipur Traffic Mor, where hundreds of activists joined the procession. Family members of victims from the July Movement expressed satisfaction, calling the verdict long-awaited justice. Local BNP and Jamaat-backed candidates also welcomed the ruling, describing it as a reflection of justice. Leaders demanded that Sheikh Hasina be brought back from India to implement the verdict swiftly. The town witnessed a festive atmosphere, while police and RAB maintained heightened security to prevent unrest.

Indian Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has voiced serious concern over the death sentence handed to Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by the International Crimes Tribunal. The tribunal sentenced Hasina, who fled to India after a popular uprising in August last year, to death on charges of crimes against humanity. Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal received the same verdict. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Tharoor said he does not believe in capital punishment anywhere and found the ruling deeply distressing. He added that while it is not appropriate to comment on another country’s judiciary, he does not view the development positively and considers it worrying. His remarks followed earlier reactions from Indian political figures, including BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who alleged that the verdict was influenced by Pakistan. The case has drawn significant attention in both Bangladesh and India.

The BCS Information Association has protested the appointment of two BCS (Administration) cadre officers as First Secretary (Press) in Bangladesh’s foreign missions in Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. In a statement signed by Vice President Mohammad Ali Sarkar and General Secretary Md Mamunur Rashid, the association expressed concern over the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s decision issued on November 16. The association argued that such positions have traditionally been held by officers from the BCS (Information-General) cadre, who are trained in media and public relations. It also cited the ministry’s earlier job circular from January 13, which stated that candidates with experience in media and public communication would be given preference. The association urged the authorities to reconsider and revoke the appointments, emphasizing that the duties of the press wing align with the expertise of the information cadre officers.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, has defended the interim government’s performance, highlighting its achievements over the past fifteen and a half months. In a Facebook post on November 18, Alam responded to widespread criticism and satire on social media that labeled the administration as weak and ineffective. He acknowledged that many view the government as inexperienced and unable to manage protests or implement laws effectively, yet he argued that it has achieved more than any previous administration in such a short time. Despite being dismissed as a transitional authority, Alam described the government as one of the most significant in Bangladesh’s recent history, claiming it fulfilled nearly all its objectives. His remarks come amid ongoing debates about the interim government’s legitimacy, capacity, and long-term impact on Bangladesh’s governance and political stability.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh is set to hold a dialogue on Wednesday with major political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, as part of its ongoing consultations ahead of the 13th parliamentary election. According to EC’s Public Relations Department Assistant Director Md. Ashadul Haque, the commission has invited 48 political parties over four days—Thursday, Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday—for discussions. On Wednesday morning, the EC will meet with Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Minority Janata Party (BMJP), Insoniyat Biplob, National Citizens Party (NCP), Ganosanghati Andolon, and National Democratic Movement (NDM). In the afternoon, the BNP, Bangladesh National Party (BJP), Gana Odhikar Parishad (GOP), Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh Republican Party (BRP), and the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist) will join the talks. Currently, Bangladesh has 55 registered political parties, including two newly registered ones, while Awami League’s registration remains suspended and three others have been canceled.

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly linking ongoing trade negotiations with Thailand to the fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. Analysts suggest Trump views the Thai-Cambodia truce as a diplomatic achievement and intends to use trade policy, including a 19 percent tariff on Thai imports, to maintain regional stability and assert U.S. influence. Although Washington and Bangkok announced a framework trade pact last month, the agreement remains unfinished, and a reported letter from the U.S. suspending trade talks has not been publicly confirmed. Experts argue that separating trade discussions from border security issues would contradict Trump’s broader foreign-policy approach, which often merges economic and geopolitical objectives. The White House and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office have not commented publicly on the matter, while tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border continue to simmer following recent military exchanges.

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has ordered the confiscation and nationalization of all assets belonging to deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, both sentenced to death for crimes against humanity. The tribunal, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, issued the directive on Monday. Following the July Revolution, authorities seized over Tk 57,257 crore linked to Hasina, her family, and ten major business groups, with Tk 10,452 crore traced abroad. Investigations by the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), CID, and NBR revealed Hasina’s assets in the US, UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Cayman Islands. Reports indicate 124 bank accounts containing Tk 635 crore, multiple properties, and foreign funds. Asaduzzaman Khan is also accused of amassing hundreds of crores through corruption and money laundering. The BFIU is coordinating ongoing investigations, with updates submitted to the Chief Adviser’s Office.

Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s longest-serving prime minister and one of the most influential figures in South Asian politics, has experienced a turbulent political journey marked by both triumph and controversy. Rising to prominence as Awami League leader in 1981 while in exile in India, she went on to become the country’s first female opposition leader and later prime minister in 1996. Her tenure saw major developments such as the Padma Bridge and Metro Rail projects, but was also marred by allegations of corruption, authoritarianism, and human rights abuses. The abolition of the caretaker government system and disputed elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024 deepened political divisions. Violent crackdowns on protests, including the 2024 quota reform movement that left hundreds dead, ultimately led to her downfall. Facing mass uprisings, Hasina fled to India in August 2024 and was later sentenced to death for crimes against humanity. Analysts remain divided on whether she could ever return to Bangladesh’s political stage.

Indian opposition leader and BJP politician Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that the death sentence handed to former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was issued under Pakistan’s influence. Speaking to ANI on November 17, Adhikari described Hasina as a progressive Muslim and a figure connected to Bengali culture, asserting that she was never associated with extremists. His remarks came after Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal reportedly sentenced Hasina to death for crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that it had taken note of the tribunal’s verdict and reiterated India’s commitment to peace, democracy, participation, and stability in Bangladesh. The ministry emphasized that India, as a close neighbor, would continue to work constructively with all parties in Bangladesh to achieve these goals.

Prominent Bangladeshi academics and legal experts have described the death sentence handed to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, convicted in absentia for crimes against humanity during the July 2024 uprising, as justified and expected. They argue that the verdict delivers long-awaited justice to the victims and the people of Bangladesh. Political scientist Dr. Dilara Chowdhury said the ruling was based on thorough investigation and clear evidence, while economist and activist Dr. Anu Muhammad emphasized that Hasina’s authoritarian governance and suppression of democracy led to the crisis. He cautioned, however, that justice must not turn into revenge. Other commentators, including MIU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mohammad Abdur Rob, said the judgment demonstrates that no one can escape punishment for oppression and injustice. Legal experts noted that enforcing the verdict will require Hasina’s extradition from India. Many urged future governments to respect democratic rights and avoid authoritarian practices.

Bangladesh’s request for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India has gained renewed urgency after her conviction by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity. Despite a formal diplomatic note sent in December last year, India has yet to respond officially. Indian officials privately indicate that the 2013 extradition treaty, amended in 2016, contains several clauses allowing India to delay or reject such requests, especially if the charges are deemed politically motivated or if fair trial concerns exist. While Bangladesh argues that the charges—murder, genocide, and enforced disappearance—fall outside the ‘political’ category, India may still invoke provisions citing doubts about judicial fairness. Analysts suggest that although New Delhi may soon face international and domestic pressure to justify sheltering a convicted fugitive, it is unlikely to hand Hasina over, maintaining its stance that the extradition request lacks credible judicial assurance.

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in connection with the July killings, a case that has drawn intense national and international attention. Prosecutors presented several phone call recordings allegedly proving Hasina’s direct orders to law enforcement agencies, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), to open fire on student protesters during the July uprising. The tribunal also convicted former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. According to investigators, the recordings were retrieved from the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre’s database and involved conversations with former Dhaka South Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Maksud Kamal, and former minister Hasanul Haq Inu. The tribunal described the evidence as conclusive, marking a historic verdict against the exiled former leader currently residing in India.

Social media platforms in Bangladesh witnessed an outpouring of jubilation following the tribunal’s verdict sentencing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity. Supporters of the July Movement, families of victims, and general citizens expressed their reactions through posts, memes, and videos on Facebook, X, and Instagram, using hashtags such as #হাসিনা, #ট্রাইব্যুনাল, and #হ্যাংহাসিনা. Many users described the ruling as a symbol of justice restored after years of alleged oppression and authoritarian rule. Celebrations, including processions and sweet distributions, were reported across the country. Viral posts featured emotional tributes, satire, and historical references to earlier war crimes trials. Analysts noted that the online reactions reflect both public sentiment and potential political implications, as the verdict may reshape the national discourse on justice and accountability. Activists also called for Hasina’s extradition from India under bilateral agreements, urging swift execution of the judgment.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain announced that the government will formally request India to extradite Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal under the existing bilateral extradition treaty. Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, Hossain said both individuals have been convicted and sentenced by Bangladeshi courts, and therefore, the government is obligated to seek their return. He declined to comment on the legal intricacies or the likelihood of India’s response, emphasizing that legal experts would better address those aspects. Hossain added that Bangladesh will communicate officially through diplomatic channels and that the matter could be raised during the upcoming visit of the National Security Adviser to New Delhi if deemed necessary. He reiterated that both convicted individuals must be requested for extradition under the treaty framework.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) is closely monitoring Bangladesh following the International Crimes Tribunal’s death sentence against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In an analytical commentary, ICG’s senior Bangladesh consultant Thomas Kean stated that Hasina’s return to Bangladesh appears highly unlikely. He noted that the verdict, linked to atrocities during the July–August 2024 protests that left around 1,400 people dead, has been largely welcomed domestically. The tribunal cited recorded conversations and witness testimonies implicating Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan. However, Kean raised concerns about the fairness of the trial held in absentia, reflecting long-standing weaknesses in Bangladesh’s criminal justice system. He described the ruling’s political implications as far-reaching, suggesting that Hasina’s refusal to relinquish control of the Awami League could hinder the party’s political revival. The ICG urged both the interim government and the Awami League to avoid further violence ahead of the upcoming 13th national election.