Bangladesh court sentences ex-Premier Hasina in contempt case; first conviction since ouster

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced on Wednesday to six months in jail for contempt of court, the first verdict against her since she fled to India last August.

A three-member bench of the Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal headed by Justice Md Golam MortuzaMozumder announced the ruling.

Shakil Akanda Bulbul, a fugitive leader of Hasina's Awami League, was also sentenced to two months in prison in the same case, chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam told reporters after the court order.

The contempt of court case, filed in April, stemmed from Hasina's remarks in leaked audio that went viral on social media. "There are 227 cases against me, so I have a license to kill 227 people," she was heard saying in the clip.

Police said the leaked clip was authentic and the voice belonged to Hasina. However, the ousted premier did not appear before the court.

The tribunal said Hasina's statement was contemptuous and an attempt to undermine the court.

Hasina fled Bangladesh for New Delhi after a student-led uprising demanding that she quit. Last month, the special tribunal set up to try her began proceedings on charges of crimes against humanity. She is accused of being responsible for ordering state forces to carry out actions that led to killings and injuries during the uprising.

Separately, the interim government issued a notification declaring Aug. 5 as "July Mass Uprising Day" and July 16 as "July Martyrs' Day. Hasina was ousted on Aug. 5 last year after the popular uprising began on July 16.