Phone call with Hasina: Sedition case filed against AL leader

A sedition case has been filed against the general secretary of the Barguna district Awami League.

As a plaintiff, Sub-Inspector (SI) of Barguna Sadar police station Shamim Ahmed filed the case against Jahangir Kabir, 60, with the police station over a phone conversation with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday (October 8).

Confirming the matter, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the police station Dewan Jaglul Hasan said: “A remand petition will be filed to interrogate Jahangir in the sedition case.”

According to the case statement, on August 10, Jahangir led a protest rally in Barguna town, aimed at toppling the current interim government. Following the rally, protesters gathered at his residence, where they openly threatened to overthrow the government through a counter-revolution.

As part of this alleged conspiracy, Jahangir reportedly spoke with Sheikh Hasina, who is in India, on August 12.

The plaintiff said this conversation is deemed an act of sedition under Bangladesh’s laws.

A recording of the conversation between Jahangir and Sheikh Hasina, which took place following the government’s fall on August 5 and Hasina’s departure from the country, was leaked on August 12.

Following the leak, a police team from Dhaka, Barguna Sadar, and the Detective Branch conducted a joint operation and arrested Jahangir.