Bangladesh court sentences ex-PM Hasina to six months for contempt

Dhaka  (Web Desk): Bangladesh’s court on Wednesday convicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of contempt of court in absentia, issuing a six-month prison sentence. This marks the first verdict since Hasina was ousted last year amid a student-led uprising.

Hasina, 77, fled to India following the unrest in August 2024 and has refused to return. Prosecutors said her remarks after leaving power intimidated witnesses involved in ongoing court proceedings. Chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam stated she would serve the sentence upon surrender or return.

In the same case, fugitive Awami League leader Shakil Akanda Bulbul received a two-month sentence. The unrest last year led to the deaths of around 1,400 people during a government crackdown, which Hasina is accused of overseeing in a separate trial. Her defense denies all charges.