The interim government of Bangladesh has intensified its crackdown on opposition voices, with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Bangladesh police filing a sedition case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over an online speech.
The action appears to be an attempt to block Hasina’s virtual address from India to her Awami League party workers and the people of Bangladesh, sources in the Union government’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
The move comes at a time of heightened political instability in the country, as hearings for Hasina and other senior Awami League leaders over alleged crimes against humanity are set to begin after the Eid holidays.
The investigation into the charges against Hasina and her associates is reportedly nearing completion.
Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka, confirmed that the probe is in its final stages and that the tribunal's chairman, Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, is slated to preside over the hearings post-Eid.
The case will examine Hasina’s role during her tenure in power.
Meanwhile, Hasina’s continued engagement with the public on digital platforms has raised concerns within the ruling interim government.
The former Prime Minister frequently addresses the nation through the Awami League's official Facebook page, Dajmukti, where she speaks directly to victims of the Yunus government’s policies.
She also holds discussions on various messaging platforms, including WhatsApp and Telegram, with party leaders, activists, and supporters.
The CID’s sedition case stems from a speech Hasina delivered on a platform known as the Joy Bangla Brigade, where, according to allegations, her words incited group members to take an oath to bring her back to power through what is described as "civil war."
The case alleges that Hasina’s calls to action encouraged an uprising against the ruling government, including demands for the resignation of the Yunus administration.
Hasina and her supporters argue that the interim government has overstayed its mandate and failed the people of Bangladesh.
In these digital discussions, Hasina has reportedly urged her followers to take strong, unified action to resist the current regime.
She is said to have emphasised that "enough is enough" and that the Yunus government must be dismissed immediately, signalling her intent to lead the opposition in a decisive movement against the administration.
The legal and political turmoil surrounding Hasina has intensified in recent months, with the former Prime Minister remaining a polarising figure.
Her speeches, often broadcast to thousands of supporters, have drawn both praise and criticism—supporters view her as a symbol of resistance against an illegitimate and oppressive regime, while detractors accuse her of attempting to destabilise the country.
As hearings for the crimes against humanity charges loom, Bangladesh’s political landscape appears increasingly fraught with tension.
With Eid holidays fast approaching, the country braces for a volatile post-holiday period, where judicial proceedings and political unrest could collide, shaping the future of its governance and democratic institutions.
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