Ex PM Hasina Sentenced 6 Months for Contempt of Court

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to six months in prison on Wednesday for contempt of court—her first conviction since fleeing to India last August.

The Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, delivered the verdict. Also sentenced in the same case was Shakil Akanda Bulbul, a fugitive Awami League leader, who received a two-month prison term, according to chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam.

The charges stemmed from remarks made by Hasina in a leaked audio clip that went viral on social media in April. In the clip, Hasina is allegedly heard saying, “There are 227 cases against me, so I have a license to kill 227 people.” Police have verified the recording as authentic and confirmed the voice was Hasina’s. She did not appear in court during the proceedings.

The tribunal said her remarks were contemptuous and intended to undermine the court’s authority.

Hasina fled to New Delhi following a student-led uprising that demanded her resignation. On August 5 last year, she was officially ousted from power after weeks of mass protests that began on July 16.

The interim government has since declared August 5 as "July Mass Uprising Day" and July 16 as "July Martyrs' Day" in remembrance of the events.

Hasina is also facing charges of crimes against humanity, including accusations that she ordered state forces to carry out deadly crackdowns on demonstrators during the uprising. Proceedings on those charges began last month.