Dhaka [Bangladesh], November 1 (ANI): The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh has issued a notice declaring ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 260 others as fugitives in a sedition case linked to the “Joy Bangla Brigade” platform, according to the Dhaka Tribune.
The notice, released in both English and Bengali on Friday, was signed by CID Special Superintendent (Media) Jasim Uddin Khan and published following an order from the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court. It appeared in two newspapers — The Daily Star and Amar Desh — in Bangladesh.
With approval from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs under Section 196 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the CID launched a sedition probe that reportedly uncovered evidence of conspiratorial activities conducted domestically and abroad through the “Joy Bangla Brigade” online platform. The activities were allegedly aimed at overthrowing the legitimate government, the report stated.
According to the platform, the brigade supports Sheikh Hasina and the legacy and leadership of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The group has also attempted to rally international backing, claiming on its website that “Dr. Yunus [the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government] is a meticulous designer and a killer and father of mob justice who aided and abetted terrorism and extremism in Bangladesh.”
After completing its investigation — which included forensic analysis of digital data from servers and social media — the CID filed a chargesheet against 286 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina.
On Thursday, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court-17 Judge Ariful Islam declared Sheikh Hasina and 260 others as absconding and ordered the publication of the fugitive notice, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has concluded its trial proceedings against Sheikh Hasina for alleged crimes against humanity and scheduled the announcement of its verdict for November 13.
The former Prime Minister is accused of involvement in the torture and disappearance of multiple individuals during the Awami League regime. Hasina fled the country following a student-led uprising in August 2024 that forced her removal from power. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus subsequently assumed leadership as head of the interim government. (ANI)
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