The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Wednesday sentenced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to six months in jail on charges of contempt of court. The verdict was issued by a three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.
Additionally, Shakil Akand Bulbul, a leader of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), was sentenced to two months in jail for contempt. This marks the first time Hasina has been sentenced in any case since leaving office and fleeing the country 11 months ago.
The case arose from a leaked audio recording of an alleged phone conversation between Hasina and Bulbul, in which a voice identified as Hasina’s stated, “There are 227 cases against me, so I now have a licence to kill 227 people.” Forensic analysis by the CID confirmed the recording’s authenticity. Following a contempt petition filed on April 30, the tribunal accepted the complaint and summoned both accused to appear in court on May 25.
