Sheikh Hasina receives 6-month sentence in ‘contempt’ case

The International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced Sheikh Hasina to six months in jail in a contempt of court case. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday afternoon by a three-member bench led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mojumder.

In the same case, Shakil Akand Bulbul from Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, was sentenced to two months in prison. This marks the first time both individuals have been convicted since reportedly going into hiding.

The case stems from a phone conversation dated October 25 of last year, in which Sheikh Hasina allegedly threatened to kill 227 individuals during a discussion with a local Awami League leader from Gaibandha. Following the circulation of an audio clip of the conversation, a case was filed by the prosecution, citing the remarks as a serious threat to the judiciary.

Today, Tribunal-1 conducted a hearing in the contempt case against the two absconding accused. The tribunal listened to the leaked audio recording, in which Hasina allegedly claimed she had a "license to kill 227 people." The court found the statement to be a direct threat to the judiciary and sentenced her accordingly.

Despite there being no legal precedent for appointing defense counsel for fugitives in such cases, the tribunal, in the interest of fair justice, appointed a state-funded lawyer to represent Sheikh Hasina.