In Dhaka, Bangladesh, a specialized tribunal has convicted former leader Sheikh Hasina, sentencing her to six months in prison for contempt of court. The charges arose from an accusation that she claimed to have a “license” to kill 227 people, a statement purportedly made in a leaked audio recording. This marks the first ruling against Hasina since she sought refuge in India following a widespread uprising last year, which ended her 15-year governance.
The contempt charge traces its origins to a controversial audio recording, allegedly capturing a conversation between Hasina and a student leader from her political faction. Within the audio, a voice alleged to belong to Hasina mentions having 227 cases against her, suggesting this gave her a “license to kill” an equal number of people. The Criminal Investigation Department verified the authenticity of this recording through forensic evaluation.
The audio highlights Hasina’s frustration over murder accusations and a slew of other crimes laid against her during the interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus. Yunus had pledged retribution against Hasina and her key allies for the deaths that occurred during the uprising challenging her authority. In June, her trial, held in absentia, commenced on charges of crimes against humanity.
The Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal, overseeing her case, initially ordered Hasina and her then-home minister to respond by mid-May. After their non-compliance, summonses were issued for a court appearance in June, followed by public notices seeking her presence. The prosecution noted neither defendant attended nor did they provide an adequate explanation through legal representation. Consequently, the tribunal exercised its legal rights to deliver a sentence.
Hasina, along with her political faction, the Awami League, has criticized the tribunal and its prosecution due to perceived affiliations with political entities, notably the Jamaat-e-Islami party. Under the Yunus administration, the Awami League was outlawed, and legal amendments were introduced allowing prosecution over the party’s involvement during the uprising.
The United Nations human rights office reported that the crackdown on protests led by students against Hasina might have resulted in as many as 1,400 fatalities over three weeks. The tribunal, which was initiated by Hasina in 2009, was originally tasked with investigating and prosecuting crimes related to Bangladesh’s 1971 war for independence. During her tenure, the tribunal addressed cases involving politicians, predominantly from Jamaat-e-Islami, for their wartime actions. Bangladesh, with India’s support, secured independence from Pakistan under the leadership of Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation’s founding leader.