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Published : 14 Oct 2025, 08:18 PM
A Dhaka court has ordered a public notice to be published in newspapers ordering former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 260 others to appear before it in a sedition case.
The case stems from their alleged participation in “anti-state activities and attempts to overthrow the interim government” through a Zoom meeting arranged by the “Joy Bangla Brigade”.
Earlier, the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrates’ Court had issued arrest warrants against the absconding suspects.
On Tuesday, police informed the court that the suspects could not be arrested.
In light of that, Magistrate Jewel Rana ordered a newspaper announcement directing them to appear before the court, following legal procedure.
The next hearing has been scheduled for Nov 11.
Meanwhile, 24 individuals, including former MP Sabina Akter Tuhin, have been formally shown arrested in the case.
The others shown arrested are Md Ibrahim Khalil Bipul, Md Abdus Sabur, Sanowara Khatun, Mehedi Hasan Akash, AKM Akhtaruzzaman, KM Rashed, Merina Khatun Mary, Sushanta Bhowmik, Nizam Bari, Jahangir Alam, Sheikh Anisuzzaman Anis, Md Akramul Alam, Md Nurun Nabi Mondol Dulal Master, Md Saiful Islam Sardar, Kazi Abul Kalam, Fancy, KM Shah Newaz alias Shiblu, Rafiqul Islam, Jinnat Sultana Jhuma, Mehedi Hasan Eshan, and Jony Chandra Sutradhar.
The CID filed an application to show these 24 individuals arrested in the case.
Their defence lawyers sought bail, which was opposed by the prosecution. The court rejected bail petitions and ordered the suspects to be sent to jail.
On Mar 27, CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Md Enamul Haque filed the sedition case against Hasina and 72 others.
After investigation, on Jul 30, he submitted the chargesheet accusing 286 people, including Hasina.
The court accepted the charge sheet on Aug 14 and issued arrest warrants against the suspects. On Sep 11, the court imposed a travel ban on them.
According to the case statement, on Dec 19, several hundred activists attended a Zoom meeting of the Joy Bangla Brigade led by Rabbi Alam, vice-president of the Awami League’s US chapter.
During the meeting, Hasina allegedly made “anti-state remarks” and instructed her followers to “oust the current interim government led by Muhammad Yunus”.
“The speech later spread across the country through social media,” the statement added.
