Bangladesh Court To Hear Framing Of Charges Against Sheikh Hasina On January 21

Dhaka: A sedition case is underway against former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is accused of plotting to destabilize the interim government. A Dhaka court has set January 21, 2026, for the hearing on framing of charges in the case. 

What are the details of the case?

The case stems from an online meeting of the 'Joy Bangla Brigade,' a group associated with the Awami League, in which hundreds of people, including Hasina, are said to have participated. 

According to reports in the local media, Hasina and hundreds of Awami League members participated in an online meeting of a group called the 'Joy Bangla Brigade' in December 2024.  They are accused of allegedly plotting to overthrow the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus during the meeting. This group is a strong supporter of the Awami League and the legacy of Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Following the hearing, Special Judge Abdus Salam set January 21 for the framing of charges against Hasina and 285 others. Most of those charged, including Hasina, are at large.

Where is Sheikh Hasina Wajed now?

Hasina fled the country to India on August 5, 2024 following a large student movement, after which an interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus came to power. On August 8 of the same year, Yunus assumed office as the head of the interim government. The case was filed last March by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which filed a charge sheet on July 30 naming 286 accused. According to media report, the court accepted the charge sheet on August 14 and issued arrest warrants against the accused. A travel ban was imposed on September 11, while on October 14, the court ordered the publication of notices in newspapers, directing 261 absconding accused, including Hasina, to appear in court. 

It is worth noting that the case was transferred from the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court in November last year. Last year, Hasina was sentenced to death by a special international crimes tribunal in November on charges of "crimes against humanity" for the government's harsh crackdown on student-led protests.