Bangladesh police have charged ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 72 others with conspiring to topple the interim government of Muhammad Yunus through a civil war, officials and media said on Saturday.
A senior police officer confirmed, "Yes, our Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed the case with Dhaka's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, accusing the accused with plotting to destabilize the present administration."
On Thursday, the court accepted the case and ordered the CID to initiate an investigation.
The case was filed after the authorities received information regarding a virtual meeting on December 19, 2024, during which the participants formed a group called the "Joy Bangla Brigade" and discussed allegedly restoring Hasina's leadership through armed struggle.
As per the state-owned BSS, voice clips of the meeting recorded the talks between Hasina and other prominent individuals, such as the host, co-host, and many other political leaders, during an online session presided over by Dr. Rabbi Alam. The recordings allegedly indicated a determination among the participants to not let the government function properly.
Police said 577 people, both from inside the country and outside, were present at the meeting and pledged loyalty to Hasina's instructions. The case identifies Awami League's US chapter vice president, Alam, as the second accused, with charges brought under the penal code.
Hasina's 16-year reign was cut short on August 5 last year in a bloody student-led revolt. The 77-year-old leader has been living in India since her removal from power, having left Bangladesh secretly.
She is now being sued more than 100 times in court, with charges ranging from mass murder and corruption. Dozens of her former party leaders and ministers have been detained or gone into hiding to avoid being prosecuted for committing crimes against humanity and other severe crimes.
After her ouster, Muhammad Yunus took charge as the interim government's Chief Adviser.
The Awami League has since been nowhere in Bangladesh's politics after Hasina's departure.
Hasina, as well as some of her aides and political commentators, has asserted that she was ousted through a masterminded conspiracy by Yunus, reportedly with the support of a key Western power.
Bangladesh's local International Crimes Tribunal has charged Hasina and some of her top ministers with crimes against humanity related to the Students Against Discrimination-organized protests.
The court was initially instituted under Hasina's regime to try those who cooperated with the Pakistani army during the 1971 Liberation War.
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