Sheikh Hasina sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to six months in prison for contempt of court over her remarks that were considered to obstruct judicial proceedings, The Daily Star reported.

The verdict was delivered by a three-member bench of the tribunal that looked at a leaked phone call between Hasina and former Chhatra League leader Shakil Akanda Bulbul.

The Chhatra League is the banned student wing of Hasina’s Awami League party.

The purported conversation, which was shared on social media last year, features Hasina allegedly saying: “I have had 227 cases filed against me, so I have received a licence to kill 227 people”.

The tribunal ruled that the comment showed contempt for the judiciary and was intended to undermine legal processes, The Daily Star reported.

Bulbul has also been sentenced to two months in jail.

The sentences will come into effect when the persons either surrender or are taken into custody, The Dhaka Tribune reported.

The matter was brought before the tribunal on April 30 by Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, who argued that the statement could intimidate witnesses and victims involved in trials related to alleged crimes against humanity connected to the July 2024 protests.

A forensic report by a government investigative agency had confirmed that the voice in the clip was that of Hasina, Reuters reported.

Following this, the tribunal...

Read more