A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others in a case over alleged participation in anti-state activities and conspiring to overthrow the interim government through a “Joy Bangla Brigade” Zoom meeting.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam issued the warrants on Thursday (August 14), taking into account a report submitted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

On 27 March, CID Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Md Enamul Haque filed the case with the same court against Sheikh Hasina and 73 others on sedition charges. The court authorised him under Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to conduct the investigation.

Following the probe, CID ASP (Cyber Investigation and Operations) Md Enamul Haque submitted a report accusing 286 people, stating that initial evidence had been found under Sections 121, 121A and 124A of the Penal Code regarding their involvement in anti-state activities.

Taking the report into cognisance, the court issued the arrest warrants and fixed 11 September for submitting the report on the execution of the warrants.

According to the case statement, on December 19 last year, Sheikh Hasina and several others took part in an online meeting of the “Joy Bangla Brigade”. During the meeting, Sheikh Hasina allegedly made anti-state remarks to her party members and instructed them to oust the current interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus. The statements later circulated widely on social media across the country.

MSK/