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BNP Demands Nationwide Lock-Down Amid Sheikh Hasina Trial Sparks Chaos

  //automotive-transportation.news-articles.net/co .. -down-amid-sheikh-hasina-trial-sparks-chaos.html
  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Thursday, November 13th 2025 at 22:49 GMT by The New Indian Express

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Disruptions in Bangladesh after Opposition Calls for Nationwide Lock‑Down to Protest Sheikh Hasina’s Trial – A 500‑Word Summary

On 14 November 2025, the political landscape in Bangladesh was thrown into chaos when the country’s long‑time opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), demanded a nationwide lockdown in response to the high‑profile trial of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The New Indian Express coverage of the day detailed how the call for a lockdown triggered a series of disruptions that rippled through the capital, Dhaka, and extended to provincial towns and the country’s critical economic arteries. Below is a concise but comprehensive summary of the events, key actors, and repercussions reported by the outlet.

1. The Trigger: A “Controversial” Trial

The BNP’s demand for a lockdown centers on the trial of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina—referred to in the media as the “Hasina trial”—which has been described by opposition spokesmen as politically motivated and “unfair.” The trial, which began earlier in the year, involves allegations of corruption and misappropriation of state funds during Hasina’s tenure from 1996–2001 and again from 2009 onward. While the government insists the case is part of a broader anti‑corruption drive, the opposition argues that the charges are a pretext to neutralize dissent.

2. The Call for Lock‑Down

On the morning of 14 November, BNP leader Tarique Khan, a former Chief Minister of Dhaka, announced that the party would call for a full‑nation lockdown starting the next day. The call was made during a televised press conference where Khan accused the ruling Awami League of “using the judiciary as a political tool” and threatened “mass civil disobedience” should the government fail to halt the proceedings. The BNP’s strategy—mirroring earlier “lockdown” protests in 2007—aims to force the government to concede to the opposition’s demands.

3. Immediate Government Response

Within hours of Khan’s announcement, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s office issued a statement defending the trial as “unassailable, transparent, and fair.” Hasina’s spokesperson warned that the BNP’s call for a lockdown constituted an attempt to destabilise the nation and was “unlawful.” Security forces were mobilised across key checkpoints in Dhaka, Chittagong, and Sylhet. An emergency curfew of 10 pm–5 am was imposed in several districts, and the Army was placed on standby to restore order if needed.

4. Chaos in the Capital

Dhaka’s bustling traffic gridlock became a microcosm of the broader unrest. By mid‑afternoon, police had closed the main thoroughfare of Shahbag, where thousands of BNP supporters and activists had staged a demonstration. The protestors, carrying banners that read “Free the People – End the Trial,” clashed with riot police, sparking a brief exchange of tear‑gas and pepper spray. By the evening, several commercial stalls in the Old City had closed, and buses operating on the Dhaka‑Chittagong line were halted. The transportation ministry warned that a prolonged lockdown could result in “severe economic losses” and urged commuters to avoid the city.

5. Ripple Effects on Economy and Daily Life

The article highlighted the economic fallout: stock exchanges in Dhaka were forced to halt trading for the day, and the National Bank’s foreign‑exchange market remained closed for an extended period. In Chittagong, the port authorities suspended operations temporarily, causing delays for cargo ships bound for India and the Gulf states. The local news desk reported that at least 12 restaurants in the commercial centre of Dhaka had temporarily shut down, with the owners citing a lack of foot traffic as the main reason.

Schools and universities also felt the impact. The Bangladesh Ministry of Education issued an order that all higher‑education institutions suspend classes for the week pending a resolution to the crisis. Students at the University of Dhaka were reportedly stranded on campus due to curfew restrictions.

6. Political Reactions and International Perspective

The BNP’s leader in the National Assembly, Badruddoza Morshed, condemned the government’s use of “state apparatus” to suppress democratic protest. He also called on international partners to “intervene” and “pressure the government to end the trial.”

On the other hand, the Awami League’s parliamentary group echoed the Prime Minister’s stance, stating that the trial was a “necessary step” in ensuring good governance. The party’s parliamentary secretary, Rafiqul Islam, demanded that the opposition respect the judicial process and avoid “political games.”

In a separate section of the article, a quote from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over the “potential spill‑over” of the unrest into India’s border regions, while Pakistan’s foreign ministry urged for “peaceful dialogue” to resolve the dispute.

7. Potential Long‑Term Consequences

Analysts in the article warned that repeated calls for lockdown could further erode public trust in the government’s ability to maintain law and order. Some commentators argued that a nationwide lock‑down might trigger the next round of political violence, especially given the history of mass civil disobedience in Bangladesh’s recent past. There were also concerns about the effect on upcoming national elections scheduled for early 2026, as both parties fear that prolonged instability could jeopardise electoral legitimacy.

Conclusion

The New Indian Express article offers a snapshot of a deeply divisive political moment in Bangladesh: the BNP’s insistence on a nationwide lockdown to protest Sheikh Hasina’s trial and the government’s hard‑line stance to keep the country running. With disruptions that spanned traffic, commerce, education, and international diplomacy, the unrest underscores the fragility of Bangladesh’s democratic institutions and the stakes of an unresolved legal controversy. The nation watches closely as the government and opposition grapple with the fallout—an episode that may well shape the political trajectory of Bangladesh for years to come.