Bangladesh on edge ahead of International Crimes Tribunal's Sheikh Hasina verdict

New Delhi: Awami League (AL), Bangladesh's oldest political party which has been banned from participating in the February general elections, has upped the ante against the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.

Last week, the party said it will intensify its protests against Yunus' regime.

The Awami League's decision comes ahead of the verdict that the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh is set to deliver on Monday in a case against deposed prime minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina over alleged crimes committed during the anti-government protests last year. The trial had taken place in her absence.


Local security agencies are on high alert in the country ahead of the verdict.

"The law enforcement agencies have already completed their necessary preparations" to prevent unpleasant events, home adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury was quoted as saying by the state-run BSS news agency. Yunus is under pressure after declaring a referendum along with polls, which has been a demand from pro-Pakistan outfit Jamaat-e-Islami.