Court bars Sheikh Hasina, 285 others from leaving country
ASP Enamul Haque filed the case before the court on 27 March 2025, with the approval of the Home Ministry, against Sheikh Hasina and 72 others on charges of treason.
A Dhaka court today (11 September) ordered a ban on the departure of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others in connection with a case filed over alleged anti-state activities and attempts to overthrow the interim government.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam passed the order upon a petition of the investigation officer of the case. The petition was filed by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Md Enamul Haque.
The court's bench assistant, Md Jahangir, confirmed the matter. He said ASP Enamul Haque, filed a petition seeking a travel ban against them. In response to the petition, the judge granted the order."
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The court at the same time asked the investigation officer to submit a report regarding the arrest of the fugitive accused in the case on 9 October as the investigation agency missed the deadline slated for today.
On 14 August, the court accepted the chargesheet and issued arrest warrants against the accused.
According to the case documents, on 19 December 2024, Sheikh Hasina along with several hundred leaders and activists, joined a Zoom meeting led by Dr Rabbi Alam, vice-president of Awami League's US chapter. During the meeting, the former prime minister allegedly delivered anti-state remarks and instructed her followers to oust Interim Government Chief Dr Muhammad Yunus.
The remarks were later circulated widely on social media. In the voice recording of the conversation between former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the host, co-host and participating leaders and activists, the participants from the country and abroad discussed that they would not allow the government to run the country peacefully.
The meeting has clear elements of the crime of treason by declaring a civil war to overthrow the current government through an online platform meeting.
Later, ASP Enamul Haque filed the case before the court on 27 March 2025, with the approval of the Home Ministry, against Sheikh Hasina and 72 others on charges of treason.
After investigating into the case, the investigation officer of the CID filed a charge sheet against Sheikh Hasina and 286 others in the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam.
The court accepted the charge sheet and issued arrest warrants against all the accused.
