Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has been sentenced to six months in jail over a contempt of court case, according to local media reports. The decision was announced by a panel of three members led by Justice Mohammad Ghulam Mortuza Mojumdar of International Crime Tribunal-1, per the Dhaka Tribune.
In addition to Hasina, the tribunal also sentenced Shakil Akand Bulbul from Gomindganj, Gaibandha, to two months of imprisonment under the same contempt ruling. Bulbul is a significant political figure in Dhaka and was connected with the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the Awami League.
What is the contempt case about?
The contempt case against Sheikh Hasina stemmed from an allegedly leaked phone call with Shakil Akand Bulbul in October of the previous year. In the audio, a voice identified as Hasina's could reportedly be heard saying, "I have 227 cases filed against me, so I now have a license to kill 227 people."
The prosecution argued that this statement equates to contempt of court because it endangered the judicial process and attempted to intimidate individuals involved in ongoing trials related to significant national insurrections.
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This marks the first time Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced in any case since she fled the country in August 2024, following widespread protests and the collapse of the Awami League government in Bangladesh. She has been residing in New Delhi since then.
