Dhaka (Bangladesh): A Bangladesh court on Wednesday fixed February 9 for the next hearing on charge framing in a sedition case filed against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others, according to state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.
Dhaka Special Judge Court-9 judge Md Abdus Salam passed the order after allowing separate defence pleas related to the case. Of the 286 accused, 259, including Hasina, are currently absconding and are being tried in absentia.
The sedition case stems from allegations that Hasina and several hundred members of her Awami League participated in a virtual meeting of a group called the “Joy Bangla Brigade” in December 2024. Investigators allege that the meeting involved discussions aimed at overthrowing the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.
According to the prosecution, a Zoom meeting titled “Joy Bangla Brigade” was held on December 19, 2024, during which participants allegedly pledged to wage a civil war to reinstate Hasina as prime minister. The case statement claims that 577 individuals from within Bangladesh and abroad joined the meeting and expressed willingness to act on Hasina’s directives.
The Criminal Investigation Department found that the online meeting, hosted by US-based Awami League leader Dr Rabbi Alam, contained content intended to resist the lawful government and incite rebellion against the state.
CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Md Enamul Haque filed the sedition case on March 27, 2025, initially naming Hasina and 72 others. Following the investigation, a charge sheet was submitted on August 14 against 286 people. The court accepted the charge sheet and issued arrest warrants against all the accused.
On October 14 last year, the court ordered newspaper notices directing the fugitives, including Hasina, to appear before it.
Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, after being ousted amid violent student-led protests in July and August that year. In November, she was sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal in a separate case related to alleged crimes against humanity during the crackdown on protests.
Three days after Hasina fled the country, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed charge as head of the interim government, which later disbanded the Awami League through an executive order.
