A Dhaka court has fixed 14 July for the next hearing on charge framing in a sedition case filed against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 286 others over allegations of anti-state activities and attempts to destabilise the interim government through an online meeting.
Dhaka Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Moin Uddin Chowdhury passed the order on Wednesday following a hearing.
Defence lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi confirmed the information.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, 26 arrested accused were produced before the court under tight security, including 21 men and five women.
They were brought to the courtroom amid heightened security as the charge-framing hearing began.
At the hearing, defence lawyers for some accused, including Sabina Akter Tuhin, sought discharge from the case, while lawyers for several other accused requested adjournment for further preparation.
The court accepted the petitions and set 14 July for the next hearing.
According to court sources, the case was initially filed on 27 March last year by CID Assistant Special Superintendent of Police Md Enamul Haque against Sheikh Hasina and 73 others on charges of sedition.
Following investigation, a chargesheet was submitted on 30 July, implicating 286 individuals.
The court accepted the chargesheet on 14 August and issued arrest warrants against the accused. A travel ban was imposed on 11 September, while on 14 October the court directed publication of notices for 261 absconding accused, including Sheikh Hasina, to appear before it.
On 11 November, the case was transferred from the Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court after it was found ready for trial.
It was later placed before Special Sessions Judge Court-9 for hearing on charge framing before being moved on 23 February to the court of Dhaka Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge for speedy disposal.
The case statement alleges that on 19 December, 2024, Sheikh Hasina and several hundred leaders and activists took part in a Zoom meeting of the “Joy Bangla Brigade” led by US Awami League Vice President Rabbi Alam.
It is alleged that during the meeting, Hasina delivered anti-state remarks and directed party activists to work toward toppling the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
The remarks were later widely circulated on social media.
