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A Bangladesh war crimes court has sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for ordering a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising last year. The verdict, delivered on Monday, concludes a months-long trial that found her guilty of crimes against humanity. Hasina, who fled to India in August 2024, was not present in court. The International Crimes Tribunal found Hasina responsible for the deaths of numerous people during the protests, which resulted in over 1,400 deaths and thousands of injuries. The court also sentenced her to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity. The verdict can be appealed in the Supreme Court. The ruling comes ahead of parliamentary elections expected in early February, which Hasina’s Awami League party has been barred from contesting. The verdict has sparked fears of fresh unrest. Hasina’s son has stated that they will not appeal unless a democratically elected government takes office with the Awami League’s participation. The country remains tense, with bomb explosions and torched vehicles reported in recent days.

“HIDDEN CALIPHATE: SUFI SAINTS BEYOND THE OXUS AND INDUS” November 07, 2025: IBA hosted an insightful public lecture by Dr. Waleed Ziad, Associate Professor of History, Georgetown University (Qatar). The session, held at the City Campus and organized by the School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS), centered on Dr. Ziad’s acclaimed book, “Hidden Caliphate: Sufi Saints Beyond the Oxus and Indus.” In his talk, Dr. Ziad explored the Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi Sufi networks that connected Central and South Asia between the 18th and early 20th centuries. He revealed how these Sufi scholars exercised their sacro-political authority to shape religious thought and community life, while also engendering a cultural resilience that transcended regional boundaries Dr. S Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director, IBA Karachi, also attended the session and commended the School of Economics and Social Sciences for organizing intellectually stimulating dialogues that promote interdisciplinary learning. The lecture was moderated by Dr. Ali Gibran Siddiqui, Assistant Professor, SESS, who facilitated an engaging discussion between the speaker and the audience. The event drew an engaging audience comprising students, faculty members, researchers, and individuals deeply interested in South and Central Asian history, religion, and culture. Participants appreciated the depth of scholarship and the relevance of Dr. Ziad’s work to understanding contemporary cultural connections across the Muslim world. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A segment, allowing attendees to explore themes related to transnational spirituality, historical continuity, and the enduring impact of Sufi thought on regional societies.

Singapore Singapore is bolstering its green ambitions by allocating about 300 hectares—roughly 10% of Jurong Island’s 3,000-hectare area—for renewable energy facilities and low-carbon fuel production, announced the Economic Development Board (EDB) and JTC Corporation. The western-side land will support solar power, sustainable aviation fuel, zero-carbon ammonia for energy and shipping, battery storage, and hydrogen-ready plants. Separately, 20 hectares will host Singapore’s largest low-carbon data centre park, with up to 700 megawatts capacity, aligning with the 2024 Green Data Centre Roadmap. Minister Tan See Leng hailed Jurong Island as a global testbed for low-carbon tech at the Singapore International Energy Week, fostering specialty chemicals growth and over 1,000 jobs.