DHAKA, Bangladesh - A special tribunal in Bangladesh has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to six months in jail for contempt of court. This unprecedented ruling follows allegations that she claimed to possess a "license to kill" 227 individuals, a statement purportedly made in a leaked audio recording during a phone conversation with a student leader of her political party.
The audio recording features a voice alleged to be Hasina's, expressing frustrations over the 227 cases filed against her. The claims made in the recording reveal her anger at accusations of murder and other serious crimes during her administration, particularly amid the backdrop of a recent mass uprising that led to her exodus to India and the subsequent end of her 15-year rule.
The Criminal Investigation Department confirmed the legitimacy of the audio recording through forensic analysis. The leaked conversation's content has significant ramifications, indicating Hasina's acknowledgment of the serious nature of the charges she faces under the interim administration led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. Yunus has publicly vowed to bring Hasina and her associates to justice for alleged involvement in the deaths of hundreds during protests against her administration.
On June 16, a trial against Hasina commenced in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity, a serious development that underscored the gravity of the allegations she faces. The tribunal had initially ordered Hasina and her former home minister to respond to the charges by May 15; however, neither appeared in court nor provided an explanation for their absence, leading to the tribunal’s decision to proceed with sentencing under existing laws.
Throughout the proceedings, Hasina and her Awami League party have criticized the tribunal and its prosecutorial team, accusing them of political bias, particularly against the Jamaat-e-Islami party, which has been a significant political adversary. Following the political upheaval, the Yunus-led government has enacted measures that include banning the Awami League party and amending laws to facilitate its prosecution for alleged crimes during the recently concluded uprising.
In a report released in February, the United Nations human rights office estimated that up to 1,400 individuals may have been killed in the violent crackdown on student-led protests against Hasina's government. This situation has raised severe human rights concerns and attracted international scrutiny over the handling of dissent in Bangladesh.
The tribunal responsible for Hasina's sentencing was established in 2009 with the aim of addressing crimes from Bangladesh's 1971 independence war, principally targeting politicians from the Jamaat-e-Islami party. Under Hasina’s government, this tribunal has a controversial history of prosecuting political adversaries, often accused of operating under the influence of the ruling party's agenda. The establishment of the tribunal was a pivotal moment in Bangladesh's legal and political landscape, aiming to bring justice for the historical injustices during the war for independence, which led to the country's emergence as a sovereign nation with significant support from India.
The case presents a critical moment not only for Sheikh Hasina but also for the political climate in Bangladesh, highlighting tensions between the government and opposition parties, as well as issues of accountability and human rights in a charged political environment.
