Police Cover Mouth of Former MP Tuhin as She Attempts to Speak

Former Member of Parliament (MP) Sabina Akhter Tuhin, who is currently in jail, was brought to court. After the hearing, she was being taken to the court lock-up. While being taken, the former MP wanted to speak to journalists present in the court premises. At that moment, a female police officer on duty covered her mouth.

The incident took place on Monday (9 February) in front of the Reboti Mansion of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court.

According to court sources, today was scheduled as the date for framing of charges against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 286 others in a sedition case. In that case, 30 people, including Tuhin, are currently in jail. The accused who were in custody were produced before the court for the hearing.

At around 2:00pm, wearing helmets and bulletproof jackets, they were taken to Dhaka Special Judge Court-10. As the judge was on leave, acting judge Rabiul Islam fixed 2 March as the next date for hearing. After that, at around 2:18pm, Tuhin and the others were brought to the lock-up of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court. At that time, Tuhin attempted to speak. A female police officer then covered her mouth. Shortly afterwards, the female detainees were taken to Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur in a prison van.

On 27 March 2025, a case was filed in court on charges of sedition against Sheikh Hasina and 73 others by CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Md Enamul Haque. After completing the investigation, on 30 July, he submitted a charge sheet naming Sheikh Hasina and 286 others as accused. On 14 August, the court took cognisance of the charge sheet and issued arrest warrants against the accused.

According to the allegations in the case, on 19 December 2024, Sheikh Hasina and several hundred leaders and activists participated in a Zoom meeting of the ‘Joy Bangla Brigade’ led by Dr Rabbi Alam, vice-president of the USA Awami League. During the meeting, Sheikh Hasina made anti-state statements to her party leaders and activists and instructed them to oust the head of the current interim government, Dr Muhammad Yunus. These statements were later spread across the country through social media.