Former Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina Sentenced for Contempt of Court in Absentia

On July 2, 2025, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to six months in prison for contempt of court. The conviction stems from a leaked audio recording in which Hasina allegedly stated, "There are 227 cases against me, so I now have a license to kill 227 people." A government forensic report confirmed the tape's authenticity. Hasina, who fled to India following a student-led uprising in August 2024 that resulted in her ousting, was tried and sentenced in absentia. In the same case, Shakil Akand Bulbul, associated with the banned student wing of Hasina's Awami League party, received a two-month sentence. The tribunal stated that sentences will be enforced upon arrest or surrender.

The ICT was originally established in 2010 during Hasina's administration to prosecute war crimes committed during Bangladesh's 1971 independence war. Under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the tribunal has been repurposed to address allegations of rights violations and corruption under Hasina's rule. The tribunal has issued multiple arrest warrants against Hasina for crimes against humanity linked to the crackdown on the student-led protests that led to her ousting.

The sentencing of Sheikh Hasina marks the first conviction against her since her departure from office. The interim government has issued multiple arrest warrants against her for crimes against humanity, and her party remains banned. While Hasina's supporters claim political persecution, the interim government defends the actions as steps toward accountability.