Dhaka

A court in Bangladesh on Monday fixed January 21 as the date for framing charges in a sedition case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 other accused, officials said.

The case stems from allegations that Hasina and several leaders and supporters of the Awami League participated in an online meeting in December 2024 organised by a group known as the Joy Bangla Brigade. Investigators have alleged that the meeting involved discussions aimed at destabilising and overthrowing the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.

The Joy Bangla Brigade is known to be closely aligned with the Awami League and draws ideological inspiration from the legacy of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

After hearing submissions, Judge Abdus Salam of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-9 scheduled January 21 for the formal framing of charges against the former prime minister and the other accused, according to local media reports.

Sheikh Hasina has been staying in India since August 5, 2024, after leaving Bangladesh amid widespread student-led protests that eventually led to the collapse of her government. Economist and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed charge as head of the interim administration on August 8, 2024.

The sedition case was registered by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in March last year. A charge sheet was filed on July 30, naming 286 individuals as accused. The court took cognisance of the charge sheet on August 14 and issued arrest warrants against all those named.

Subsequently, travel restrictions were imposed on the accused in September, and in October, the court ordered publication of newspaper notices directing absconding accused, including Hasina, to appear before it.

READ MORE: IUML's Fatima Muzaffar Ahmed is the epitome of Muslim woman leadership

The case was transferred to the sessions court in November after being deemed ready for trial.