Islamabad, July 4, 2025: Bangladesh’s self-exiled ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced a six-month imprisonment term for contempt of court by the country’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
The three-judge bench, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, announced the decision in Hasina’s absence on Wednesday. The sentence will be enforced upon her detention or if she surrenders voluntarily, Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam informed journalists.
Hasina, who escaped to India after a student-driven rebellion last August, is facing multiple accusations. This is the first instance where she has been officially sentenced in any of the legal proceedings.
Shakil Akand Bulbul, a prominent leader of the outlawed student faction of the Awami League, Chhatra League, also received a two-month jail sentence in the same matter.
The contempt charges arise from an audio clip in which Hasina was allegedly heard stating, “There are 227 cases against me, so I now have a licence to kill 227 people.” A forensic report from the authorities later confirmed the recording’s authenticity.
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The ICT was initially formed in 2010 under Hasina’s own administration to prosecute war crimes committed during the country’s 1971 liberation conflict. However, it has now been redirected by the interim administration, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, to investigate allegations of human rights abuses and corruption during Hasina’s tenure.
The tribunal has so far issued three arrest warrants against Hasina, including charges of crimes against humanity related to the crackdown on last year’s student protests that led to her government’s downfall. Her Awami League party remains prohibited, with ongoing court cases against former officials.
Hasina’s allies claimed that the cases are politically driven, however, the interim administration kept its stance that the judicial actions are essential to rebuild confidence in national institutions and uphold justice.
