Indictment hearing in sedition case against Hasina, 285 others on 5 Jan

A Dhaka court today set 5 January for holding a hearing on charge framing in a sedition case against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others.
 
Judge Md Abdus Salam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-9 passed the order, allowing a time plea by the defense, public prosecutor Saifullah Al Mamun told BSS.
 
Earlier on 11 November, the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ishrat Jenifar Zerin transferred the case to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court as the case became ready for trial.
 
The case was lodged over allegations of participating in anti-state activities and conspiring to overthrow the interim government by joining a Zoom meeting of "Joy Bangla Brigade." The case has a total of 286 accused, including Sheikh Hasina, of whom 258 remain absconding. 
 
On 14 October, the court ordered publication of notices in newspapers asking the fugitives, including Sheikh Hasina, to appear before the court. 
 
"At present, 27 accused—including former lawmaker and ex-president of the Dhaka North unit of Jubo Mohila League Sabina Akhter Tuhin—are in custody," CID Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Md Enamul Haque, who is also the complainant of the case, told BSS.
 
Apart from Sheikh Hasina, the prominent accused include former MP Sabina Akhter Tuhin, US chapter Awami League vice-president Dr Rabbi Alam, Joy Bangla Brigade member Kabirul Islam, Adv Kamrul Islam, Elahi Newaz Masum, Zakir Hossain Jiku, Prof Taheruzzaman, AKM Akhtaruzzaman, Ajida Parveen Pakhi, Adv AFM Didarul Islam, Maksudur Rahman, former MP Syeda Rubina Akter, former MP Pankaj Nath, Laila Banu, Bangladesh Chhatra League president Saddam Hossain, Ritu Akter, Nurunnabi Nibir, Sabina Begum, and Shariful Islam Ramzan.
 
According to the case statement, on 19 December 2024, a virtual meeting titled "Joy Bangla Brigade" was held, where participants allegedly vowed to wage a civil war to reinstall fugitive Sheikh Hasina as the country's prime minister. 
 
A total of 577 individuals at home and abroad joined the Zoom meeting, expressing their commitment to follow her directives.
 
The CID investigation found that the online meeting, hosted by US Awami League leader Dr Rabbi Alam, contained discussions that aimed to resist the lawful government and incited rebellion against the state.
 
Upon receiving the Home Ministry's approval, CID ASP Md Enamul Haque filed the sedition case against Sheikh Hasina and 72 others with the court on 27 March. 
Later, under Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), he was assigned to investigate the case.
 
After the investigation, the CID officer submitted a charge sheet on 14 August against 286 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina. The court accepted the charge sheet and issued arrest warrants against all the accused.