A special tribunal in Bangladesh is expected to rule Monday on whether ousted leader Sheikh Hasina is guilty of crimes against humanity for her role in the deadly crackdown of student-led protests last year.  

The country has been on edge for several days following a wave of bomb and arson attacks that took place amid protests organized by Hasina’s Awami League party, which is currently banned from political activity. Hasina remains in exile in New Delhi after fleeing the country in August 2024 after 15 years in power.

Security in the capital, Dhaka, has been tightened ahead of Monday’s verdict by a special tribunal led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder. Hasina’s party last week called for a citywide “lockdown”, urging supporters to take to the streets in a direct challenge to the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.  

Prosecutors have previously sought the death penalty for Hasina, accusing her of directly ordering the killing of hundreds of mainly young protesters in clashes with security forces last year. A February report from the United Nations estimated about 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and Aug. 5 last year, the vast majority of who were shot by Bangladesh’s security forces.

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Hasina has denied the charges and rejected the trial as “politically motivated”.

“I categorically deny all charges brought against me,” Hasina said in a emailed response to questions. “The claim that I ordered security forces to open fire on protesters is categorically untrue. At no time did I issue or authorize such an order. It didn’t happen, and the transcripts cited by the prosecution have been taken out of context and misused.”

She questioned the motives of the tribunal and said she wouldn’t return to Bangladesh to stand trial as she wouldn’t get a fair hearing.

“Returning to my home under the current circumstances would not be justice, it would be a political persecution,” she said.

Yunus continues to face challenges in stabilizing the country more than a year after he was appointed transitional leader. He’s pledged to hold elections and a vote on constitutional reforms in February.

Hasina said the decision to ban her Awami League party from the elections was unconstitutional and would disenfranchise her supporters.

“Bangladesh’s history shows that when voters are blocked from supporting their favoured party, they do not vote at all,” she said. She urged her supporters to “remain peaceful, remain patient, and continue to believe that democracy will return to our country.”