Charge-framing in sedition case against Hasina, 285 others deferred to 2 March
According to the case statement, during a meeting, Sheikh Hasina allegedly made anti-state remarks and instructed party leaders to remove Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus from power.
A Dhaka court has deferred the hearing on framing charges in a sedition case against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others to 2 March.
The case involves allegations that the accused participated in activities aimed at overthrowing the interim government and engaging in anti-state actions by joining a Zoom meeting of the group known as "Joy Bangla Brigade."
The order was passed today (9 February) by Md Robiul Islam, acting judge of Dhaka Special Judge Court-9, following a hearing, confirmed State Prosecutor Ruhul Amin.
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The hearing was scheduled to complete the remaining arguments on charge framing, and the accused who are currently in custody were produced before the court. However, as the presiding judge of the court, Abdus Salam, was on leave, the acting judge fixed a new date for the next hearing.
Earlier, on 21 January, a partial hearing on charge framing was held. On that day, police produced 30 arrested accused before the court, and arguments regarding charge framing were heard for 20 of them.
According to court sources, the case was initially filed on 27 March last year by police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Assistant Superintendent Md Enamul Haque, accusing Sheikh Hasina and 72 others of sedition. Following investigation, a charge sheet naming 286 accused was submitted on 30 July.
The court accepted the charge sheet on 14 August and issued arrest warrants against the accused. A travel ban was imposed on them on 11 September, and on 14 October, the court ordered to publish newspaper notices directing 261 absconding accused, including Sheikh Hasina, to appear before the court.
Subsequently, on 11 November, the case was transferred from the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate's Court to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court after it was deemed ready for trial.
According to the prosecution, on 19 December 2024, Sheikh Hasina and several hundred leaders and activists participated in a Zoom meeting of the Joy Bangla Brigade, led by Dr Rabbi Alam, vice-president of the US Awami League. During the meeting, Sheikh Hasina allegedly made anti-state remarks and instructed party leaders to remove Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus from power. The statements later circulated widely on social media.
