Joy Bangla Brigade Case: Charge Framing Deferred to January 21
A Dhaka court has deferred the framing of charges until January 21 in a case filed against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others on allegations of forming the ‘Joy Bangla Brigade’ on online platforms to overthrow the current interim government and engage in anti-state conspiracy.
The order was passed on Monday, January 5, by Judge Abdus Salam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-9. The court granted the time extension as several accused, including the 16th accused, were absent on the day.
Although court proceedings began at 11:00 am, delays occurred in producing the accused from the jail lock-up, prompting state prosecutors to seek an explanation. Subsequently, hearings were conducted in three phases, during which 26 accused were produced before the court.
On behalf of the prosecution, Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Advocate Omar Faruk Faruqi and Assistant Public Prosecutor Advocate Saifullah Al Mamun argued in favour of framing charges.
Representing former lawmaker Sabina Akhter Tuhin, defence lawyer Advocate Morshed Hossain Shaheen argued that no terrorist activity took place in the Zoom meeting and claimed the case was filed with malicious intent.
Advocate Kamrul Islam and other defence lawyers contended that discussions held on digital platforms should have been addressed under cyber laws rather than the Penal Code. They also sought bail, describing many of the accused as “helpless and technologically illiterate.”
According to the case statement, an online meeting titled ‘Joy Bangla Brigade’ was held on December 19, 2024. The meeting, hosted by Dr. Rabbi Alam, vice-president of the USA Awami League, was attended by 577 participants from home and abroad, including fugitive Sheikh Hasina.
The prosecution alleges that the meeting involved a conspiracy to reinstall Sheikh Hasina in power by toppling the current government through a “civil war.” After reviewing voice recordings of the conversations and finding clear elements of sedition, CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Md. Enamul Haque filed the case on March 27, 2025.
Following the investigation, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submitted a charge sheet against Sheikh Hasina and 285 others on August 14. The court accepted the charge sheet, issued arrest warrants against all accused, and imposed travel bans on them on September 11.
Besides Sheikh Hasina, notable accused include Dr. Rabbi Alam, Joy Bangla Brigade member Kabirul Islam, Advocate Kamrul Islam, Elahi Newaz Masum, Zakir Hossain Jiku, Professor Taheruzzaman, AKM Akhtaruzzaman, Awami League leader Sabina Yasmin, Azida Parvin Pakhi, Shaheen, Advocate AFM Didarul Islam, Maksudur Rahman, former MPs Syed Rubina Akhtar and Pankaj Nath, Laila Banu, Chhatra League central president Saddam Hossain, Ritu Akter, Nurunnabi Nibir, Sabina Begum, and Shariful Islam Ramjan.
Currently, 28 accused, including Sabina Akhter Tuhin, are in jail in connection with the case. Other notable accused shown as arrested include Md. Ibrahim Khalil Bipul, Md. Abdus Sabur, Mosammat Chanowara Khatun, Mehedi Hasan Akash, AKM Aktaruzzaman, KM Rashed, Mosammat Marina Khatun Mary, Sushanta Bhowmik, Nizam Bari, Jahangir Alam, Sheikh Anichuzzaman Anich, Md. Akramul Alam, Md. Nur-un-Nabi Mondol Dulal, Md. Saiful Islam Sardar, Kazi Abul Kalam, Mosammat Fancy, KM Shah Newaz alias Shiblu, Rafiqul Islam, Jinnat Sultana Jhumu, Mehedi Hasan Eshan, and Jony Chandra Sutradhar.
DBTech/BTO/EK/OR
