Security tightened at the tribunal
Security at the International Crimes Tribunal has been beefed up ahead of the announcement of the verdict date in the case against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and three others accused of crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising.
The International Crimes Tribunal-1, headed by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder, will announce the verdict date for the case on Thursday (November 13). The banned Awami League has announced a 'Dhaka Lockdown' program around the day.
Police-RAB, BGB-Army and plainclothes intelligence agency members have been deployed at the tribunal premises since this morning. At the same time, a security cordon has been set up around the area. Even the public and journalists are being allowed to enter after conducting searches.
Those concerned said that all-out preparations have been made to ensure that no one can cause provocative activities or chaos on the day of the verdict. Security arrangements have been arranged in such a way that the court proceedings are completed smoothly.
At around 7:30 am, at the gate of the High Court shrine-adjacent tribunal, it was seen that members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Armed Police Battalion (APBN) were on alert. There were armored vehicles of the BGB and DMP there. An army patrol team arrived there after 8:00 am.
17,000 members of the DMP have been deployed at various important establishments in Dhaka today to prevent any sabotage surrounding the announcement of the verdict date and the Awami League program. Apart from this, members of various units of the army, BGB and police are also deployed.
To ensure security, members of the law enforcement agencies have been searching public transport and suspicious persons at various check posts at the entrances of Dhaka since Wednesday. This activity is continuing today as well. Search operations were conducted at various residential hotels and messes in Dhaka last night.
The situation on the roads of the capital appeared to be fairly normal in the morning. After 7 pm, police were seen on alert at various points on the way from Mirpur to the High Court area. Vehicles were moving on the road. However, the number was slightly less than on other days. Members of the joint force were seen patrolling at Bangla Motor intersection.
There is a police check post at the Hotel Intercontinental intersection. Traffic from there towards Jamuna, the official residence of the Chief Advisor, has been stopped. Vehicles trying to go that route are being sent towards Shahbagh.