A treason case filed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 286 others on charges of attempting to overthrow the interim government and engaging in anti-state activities is now ready for trial.
On Tuesday (November 11), Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ishrat Jennifer Jerin ordered the case to be transferred to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court for further proceedings.
According to the case documents, Sheikh Hasina and several others participated in an online meeting of a group called “Joy Bangla Brigade”, during which they allegedly discussed plans to topple the interim government and made anti-state statements.
Court sources said that among the 286 accused, 261 are absconding. A gazette notification summoning them to appear before the court has already been published. Following the report’s submission, the case was declared ready for trial.
After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, in the face of mass student and public protests, numerous murder and criminal cases were filed against Sheikh Hasina and other senior leaders of her party across various police stations and courts.
The International Crimes Tribunal has also initiated trials against her and others, classifying the July clashes as “genocide.”
According to the charge sheet, on December 19, 2024, Sheikh Hasina participated in a Zoom meeting organized by the U.S. chapter of the Awami League’s Vice President Rabbi Alam, where she allegedly delivered anti-state statements and instructed her followers to overthrow the current interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
A total of 25 individuals, including former MP Sabina Akter Tuhin, have been arrested in this case, while most of the accused remain fugitives.
Currently, Sheikh Hasina is residing in New Delhi, India. Although the Bangladesh government has requested her extradition under a bilateral agreement, India has not yet responded.
After investigation, CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Md. Enamul Haque submitted the charge sheet against Sheikh Hasina and 285 others on July 30. The court later accepted the charges, issued arrest warrants, and imposed travel bans on the accused.
The trial proceedings will now commence in the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court.