Staff Reporter :
A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others in a case filed over alleged sedition, including plotting to overthrow the interim government and engaging in anti-state activities during an online meeting of the “Joy Bangla Brigade.”
Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam issued the warrants on Thursday (14 August), taking into account a report submitted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The case was initially filed on 27 March by CID Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Md Enamul Haque against Sheikh Hasina and 72 others, accusing them of sedition.
The court then authorised ASP Haque, under Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), to conduct the investigation.
Following the probe, CID’s ASP (Cyber Investigation and Operations) Md Enamul Haque submitted a report naming 286 individuals, including the former premier, as accused.
The report stated that preliminary evidence had been found of their involvement in anti-state activities under Sections 121, 121A, and 124A of the Penal Code.
Taking the report into cognisance, the court issued arrest warrants and set 11 September as the date for submitting the execution report on the warrants.
According to the case statement, on 19 December last year, Sheikh Hasina and several others took part in a Zoom meeting of the “Joy Bangla Brigade,” where she allegedly made anti-state remarks and instructed her party members to oust the current interim government led by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus.
The remarks were later circulated widely on social media across the country.
