Sedition case against Hasina, 285 others transferred for speedy disposal

A court has ordered the transfer of a sedition case against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others to ensure a speedy trial and disposal.

The case accuses 286 people of taking part in anti-state activities and conspiring to overthrow the interim government during a Zoom meeting of "Joy Bangla Brigade."

The case was at the stage of hearing on charge framing in the court of Judge Abdus Salam of Dhaka Special Judge's Court-9. On 23 February, the Special Judge's Court-9 transferred the case to the court of Dhaka's Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Moin Uddin Chowdhury for expedited proceedings, confirmed his Bench Assistant Golam Nabi.

He said the case against Sheikh Hasina and 285 others had been received by their court.

Today (2 March) was fixed for the hearing on the charge framing and marked the first day in the new court. However, no hearing took place, and the next date has been set for 9 March.

Earlier, on 21 January, a partial hearing on charge framing began. Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruqi argued in favour of framing charges. Subsequently, lawyers for 20 of the 30 accused currently in jail sought discharge from the case. The transfer order came at this stage of the proceedings.

According to court sources, the case was filed on 27 March last year by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Assistant Special Superintendent of Police Md Enamul Haque against Sheikh Hasina and 72 others on charges of sedition. Following the investigation, a charge sheet was submitted on 30 July, naming Sheikh Hasina and 285 others as accused.

The court accepted the charge sheet on 14 August and issued arrest warrants against the accused. On 11 September, a travel ban was imposed on them. On 14 October, the court ordered newspaper notices asking 261 absconding accused, including Sheikh Hasina, to appear before the court. On 11 November, the case was transferred from the Metropolitan Magistrate's Court to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court after being deemed ready for trial.

According to the case statement, on 19 December 2024, Sheikh Hasina and several hundred party leaders and activists allegedly joined a Zoom meeting of "Joy Bangla Brigade," led by Dr Rabbi Alam, vice-president of the US Awami League. It is alleged that during the meeting, Sheikh Hasina delivered anti-state remarks and instructed her followers to oust then chief adviser Muhammad Yunus of the interim government. The speech later spread widely on social media across the country.