A Bangladesh court on Wednesday scheduled February 9 for the next hearing on charge framing in a sedition case filed against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others. The case is linked to allegations of plotting civil unrest to destabilise the interim government.
Judge Md Abdus Salam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-9 passed the order after accepting separate pleas from the defence, according to state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
The case stems from a virtual meeting held on December 19, 2024, under the banner “Joy Bangla Brigade”. Investigators allege that participants in the online meeting discussed plans to incite civil war and overthrow the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in order to restore Hasina as prime minister. The meeting was allegedly hosted by US Awami League leader Dr Rabbi Alam.
Out of the 286 accused, 259 — including Sheikh Hasina — remain absconding and are being tried in absentia. In October last year, the court directed authorities to publish newspaper notices asking the fugitives to appear before it.
According to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), as many as 577 people from Bangladesh and abroad joined the Zoom meeting and expressed their willingness to follow Hasina’s directives. CID Assistant Superintendent Md Enamul Haque filed the sedition case on March 27, 2025, initially naming Hasina and 72 others. Following the investigation, a charge sheet was submitted on August 14, expanding the list of accused to 286 individuals. The court subsequently accepted the charge sheet and issued arrest warrants against all of them.
Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power after violent student-led protests in July and August 2024 and fled to India on August 5 that year. Three days later, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge as head of the interim government, which later disbanded the Awami League through an executive order. In November, Hasina was also sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal for crimes against humanity related to the crackdown on protests.