Two bulldozers were transported to Dhanmondi 32 on Monday morning, hours before the much-anticipated verdict in the crimes against humanity case against toppled prime minister Sheikh Hasina. 

Witnesses said the machines were brought in on trucks around noon, drawing crowds of onlookers and triggering slogans from a group of youths riding atop one of the bulldozers.

A correspondent at the scene reported that several young men were chanting various slogans as the vehicles approached the historic site. Security around the area has been tightened, with armoured personnel carriers positioned near the entry points to Road 32 and a heavy deployment of law enforcement personnel maintaining strict control over movement.

The arrival of the bulldozers comes against the backdrop of heightened tension in the capital. Earlier this year, on 5 February, a bulldozer was used to demolish the structure at Dhanmondi 32, accompanied by an excavator.

Before that, following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August last year, the house—long regarded as a symbol of the party's legacy—was set ablaze by protesting students.

Today’s verdict relates to allegations of atrocities committed during the July uprising, with the tribunal scheduled to pronounce its judgment later in the day. 

As part of its ‘complete shutdown’ programme, the banned Awami League has called for a nationwide halt to activities, while law enforcement agencies remain on high alert to prevent any unrest.