The presence of vehicles and commuters on Dhaka roads was significantly thinner today amid the Awami League's "Dhaka Lockdown' programme today. 

As the country remained on high alert due to the programme declared by AL after the International Crimes Tribunal-1 announced that it will announce the verdict date in a case against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two others over crimes against humanity.

Around 12:00pm today, the ICT-1 announced that it will deliver verdict in the case on November 17.

Dhaka's usually congested roads appeared unusually calm, with noticeably lighter traffic even during office hours amid growing public anxiety and heightened security measures.

No traffic congestion was seen at major intersections, including Farmgate and Karwan Bazar, while this correspondent travelled from Adabor to Farmgate.

The journey, which usually takes 35 to 40 minutes, took only 12 minutes today. Metro rail stations also saw fewer passengers than usual.

Similarly, a low presence of vehicles and pedestrians was observed in other busy areas of the capital, including Shahbagh and Gulistan.

Tension has escalated ahead of today's planned 'lockdown' by the AL, whose political activities have been banned. Reports of arson and crude bomb explosions across parts of the country have further intensified public fears.

Several educational institutions have suspended classes for the day amid safety concerns.

Law enforcement agencies, including the police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), have been deployed across the city to prevent potential violence.

In the lead-up to the verdict announcement, several incidents of arson and crude bomb explosions were reported in different parts of Dhaka and elsewhere, deepening public apprehension of renewed unrest.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Sajjad Ali said yesterday that the force was fully prepared to prevent any acts of sabotage linked to the announced lockdown. Additional police personnel have been stationed at all entry and exit points of the capital.

Meanwhile, several political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolon Bangladesh, brought out protest processions this morning in different parts of the city, condemning arson attacks and what they described as growing anarchy.