The International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to six months in prison in a contempt of court case. In the same verdict, Shakil Akand Bulbul, a Chhatra League leader from Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, has been sentenced to two months in prison.
The order was delivered on Wednesday (July 2) afternoon by a three-member bench of the tribunal, headed by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder.
Despite there being no legal provision for appointing state-funded counsel in contempt of court cases, the tribunal appointed a lawyer for Sheikh Hasina in the interest of justice. Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim informed reporters that the court had also appointed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) to assist during the proceedings.
The chief prosecutor filed the contempt petition on April 30 against Sheikh Hasina and Shakil Akand Bulbul in response to their public statements regarding the July mass uprising case. The tribunal accepted the complaint on the same day and directed the accused to submit written responses by May 15. When no response was filed, the court ordered both individuals to appear before it on May 25.
The charges stem from a viral audio clip of Sheikh Hasina in which she is heard saying, “There are 227 cases against me, so I have a license to kill 227 people.” A forensic investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) confirmed the authenticity of the recording. This prompted the contempt of court application filed with the tribunal.
The verdict marks a significant development in an already politically charged case, drawing nationwide attention.
