Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has been sentenced to six months in jail for contempt of court. The verdict came from the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT) on Wednesday. The court said that Hasina made comments that insulted and undermined its authority. Ironically, this tribunal was actually set up by Hasina’s own government back in 2008 to look into war crimes from the 1971 Liberation War.
Hasina has not been in Bangladesh since August 2024. After a huge student-led protest movement, she fled Dhaka and is now living in exile in India. Since she left, a new interim government led by Chief Adviser Mohammed Yunus has taken over. This government has made a lot of changes to the tribunal, including bringing in new judges and changing some of the rules.
This is the first time Hasina has faced legal action since she was removed from power. She is also the leader of the Awami League, which is now banned in Bangladesh. Hasina has denied all the charges against her.
Denying the Charges and Trial in Absence
On July 1, Hasina rejected five serious charges, including abetment, incitement, complicity, facilitation, and conspiracy to commit mass murder. These are considered crimes against humanity in Bangladesh. Her trial started on June 1, but she is being tried in absentia because she refuses to return home.
Awami League’s Reaction
The Awami League, now working from London, called the trial a “show trial” and said it was all political. They claim the current government has filled the courts with their own supporters and is using the legal system to silence anyone who speaks out. According to them, the tribunal is no longer about justice but about crushing the opposition.
The party also pointed out that some of the prosecutors used to defend war criminals, which makes them question how fair the process really is. They even described the ICT as a “kangaroo court,” saying that people have lost faith in the justice system. They claim there are thousands of fake murder cases and that many political opponents are being held without a fair trial. There are also accusations of extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses.
The Awami League says the government has passed laws to protect those who used violence during the protests. Despite all this, the party says it still supports fair trials, but they just don’t trust the current system.
Background: Protests and Hasina’s Exile
All this started back in July 2024, when students across Bangladesh began protesting. The government responded with a harsh crackdown, and according to the United Nations, more than 1,400 people died. As things got worse, Hasina left for India in August 2024 and hasn’t come back since. Her trial is now happening without her in the country.
In short, Sheikh Hasina is facing jail time for contempt of court, but her supporters say the whole process is unfair and politically motivated. The country remains deeply divided, with many people worried about justice and human rights.