Tension spread across Bangladesh after the country's so-called International Crimes Tribunal issued a death sentence to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for offences classified as crimes against humanity, India Today reported.

The ruling and the unrest in its wake by Hanisa’s supporters prompted Bangladesh police to reinforce security in Dhaka and several districts as reports of violence continued to surface on November 17 and 18. Local broadcasters reported that Bangladesh police used batons, sound grenades and tear gas to disperse crowds in parts of the capital. Footage shared online showed officers chasing demonstrators while loud blasts echoed through nearby streets.

The atmosphere in the city remained unsettled for several hours as groups confronted security personnel in multiple neighbourhoods. Bangladesh and especially its capital Dhaka was already being rocked by continued instances of crude grenade and arson attacks in the run up to the verdict on Hasina. The most sensitive scenes unfolded near Dhanmondi in Dhaka, the location of the former residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founding leader and father of Hasina.

Protesters also attempted to march towards the site and damage surrounding property although Bangladesh police blocked their advance. Ahead of the verdict, Hasina's political party, the Bangladesh Awami League had called for a two day nationwide shutdown beginning November 18 2025, arguing that the tribunal’s process was politically driven.

The party has been barred by the Bangladesh interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which previously accused the organisation of being complicit in human rights abuses that contributed to the fall of the Hasina government. Clashes on November 19 2025 involved Awami League supporters and members of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, a student group formed from the movement that challenged Hasina's regime in 2024 and successfully ousted it.

Demonstrators continue to block highways in several districts and fought Bangladesh police for long periods as authorities continue to deploy large numbers of security personnel across Dhaka and other regions as conditions remain tense and the mood fragile.