![](https://worldnewsradar.id/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BANNER-RENT-300X47-COLUMN-1.png"){kind=small}
Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently living in self-imposed exile, has been sentenced to six months in jail by the country’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for contempt of court, according to top prosecutors. This marks the first formal sentencing against Hasina, who has been facing numerous legal proceedings since her departure following deadly student-led protests in August.
I. Verdict and Sentencing by the Tribunal
1. Hasina Sentenced in Absentia
The ICT, composed of three judges and headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, delivered the ruling in Hasina’s absence. The sentence will be enforced upon her arrest or voluntary surrender, said Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam. Hasina, once the powerful leader of the Awami League, had fled to India to evade mounting legal pressure.
2. Additional Sentencing of Party Associate
Shakil Akand Bulbul, affiliated with the banned student wing of the Awami League known as Chhatra League, was also handed a two-month prison term in the same contempt case. The Chhatra League had long been aligned with Hasina’s leadership before being declared illegal by the transitional government.
II. Background of the Case and Leaked Recording
1. Contempt Stemming from Phone Recording
The charges against Hasina stem from a leaked phone call in which she allegedly stated, “there are 227 cases against me, so I now have a licence to kill 227 people.” This remark, widely shared online, was deemed contemptuous toward the court and judicial process.
2. Government Verification of Audio Evidence
A forensic analysis conducted by a government investigative body confirmed the recording’s authenticity. This confirmation played a critical role in advancing the contempt of court case that led to Hasina’s conviction.
III. Political and Legal Context
1. Origins of the Tribunal
The ICT was initially established in 2010 under Hasina’s own administration to prosecute those responsible for atrocities during the 1971 Liberation War. Ironically, the same institution is now prosecuting her under new leadership.
2. Transition of Power and Interim Government Goals
The interim government, now led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has committed to pursuing justice against former officials, including Hasina, for alleged abuses of power, corruption, and human rights violations—especially regarding the brutal suppression of the student uprising that led to her downfall.
3. Ongoing Trials Against Awami League
The Awami League, the political party Hasina once led, remains banned, and its senior figures are under investigation. The government claims these legal proceedings are essential to restore public faith in democratic institutions and uphold the rule of law.
IV. Responses and Reactions
1. Supporters Denounce Charges as Politically Driven
Hasina’s loyalists have rejected the charges, labeling them as part of a political vendetta orchestrated by the interim regime. They argue the cases are an attempt to sideline Hasina and her party permanently from Bangladesh’s political landscape.
2. Government Emphasizes Rule of Law
Despite the pushback, officials in the caretaker administration maintain that the ongoing prosecutions are not politically motivated but are necessary for re-establishing transparency, justice, and democratic governance in the country.
Conclusion
The sentencing of Sheikh Hasina by the International Crimes Tribunal marks a significant chapter in Bangladesh’s shifting political narrative. While critics argue that the charges are fueled by political retribution, the interim government insists it is laying the foundation for a more accountable and democratic society. As the legal battles continue, the future of Hasina and her banned party remains uncertain under a government committed to reform and rule of law.
