Indictment hearing in a sedition case against Hasina, 285 others Jan 21

A Dhaka court on Monday set January 21 for holding a hearing on charge framing in a sedition case filed against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others.

Today was fixed for holding a hearing on the matter, and one of the accused, Anisuzzaman, was produced before the court for that. Judge Md Abdus Salam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-9, however, refixed the hearing date, allowing a time plea of the defence.

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 October 14, 2025, the court ordered publication of notices in newspapers asking the fugitives, including Sheikh Hasina, to appear before the court. Apart from Sheikh Hasina, the prominent accused include former MP Sabina Akhter Tuhin, US unit 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 December 19, 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 March 27, 2025. 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 August 14 against 286 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina. The court accepted the charge sheet and issued arrest warrants against all the accused.