Court Sentences Former Bangladeshi PM to Six Months in Prison
(MENAFN) Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was handed a six-month prison sentence for contempt of court on Wednesday, marking the first legal action against her since she fled to India in August of the previous year.
The ruling was issued by a three-judge panel of the Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.
Shakil Akanda Bulbul, a fugitive member of Hasina’s Awami League party, was also sentenced to two months in jail in connection with the same case, according to chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam, who briefed reporters after the court decision.
The contempt of court case was initiated in April following Hasina’s controversial comments in a leaked audio clip that went viral on social media. In the recording, she allegedly stated: "There are 227 cases against me, so I have a license to kill 227 people."
Police have confirmed that the clip was genuine and the voice in it was Hasina’s. However, the former prime minister did not appear in court to face charges.
The tribunal declared Hasina’s remarks as contemptuous, deeming them an attempt to discredit the judiciary.
Hasina, who fled Bangladesh for New Delhi after a student-led revolt last year, has faced mounting legal pressure. A special tribunal recently began proceedings against her, accusing her of ordering state forces to carry out deadly operations during the uprising.
In a separate development, the interim government declared August 5 as "July Mass Uprising Day" and July 16 as "July Martyrs' Day." Hasina was removed from office on August 5, 2024, following the eruption of mass protests beginning on July 16.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
