Bangladesh Court Fixes Jan 21 for Sedition Charges Against Sheikh Hasina

A court in Bangladesh has fixed January 21 for framing charges in a sedition case against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others, marking another major development in the country’s ongoing political and legal turmoil.

The case is linked to allegations that Hasina and several leaders and supporters of the Awami League participated in a virtual meeting of a group known as the “Joy Bangla Brigade” in December 2024. Prosecutors claim the meeting involved discussions aimed at destabilising and overthrowing the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus.

Background of the case

The investigation was initiated in March last year, with a detailed charge sheet later submitted naming 286 accused. The court formally accepted the charges in August and subsequently issued arrest warrants against those named. Travel restrictions were imposed, followed by public notices directing absconding accused, including Hasina, to appear before the court.

The case was later transferred from a metropolitan magistrate’s court to a sessions court after being deemed ready for trial.

Hasina has been residing in India since August 2024, after leaving Bangladesh amid widespread student-led protests that ultimately led to the collapse of her government. The interim administration was sworn in days later.

Earlier conviction

In November last year, Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal on charges of crimes against humanity linked to a violent crackdown on protests during her tenure. That ruling, along with the sedition case, has drawn international attention and intensified debate over political accountability and rule of law in Bangladesh. The January 21 hearing is expected to be a key milestone in the legal proceedings against the former leader and other accused.