The conviction of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has drawn significant global media attention, marking her first sentencing since her ouster in August 2024.
Hasina, currently in exile, was sentenced in absentia to six months’ imprisonment for contempt of court after the tribunal ruled that her remarks in a leaked phone call– widely circulated earlier this year– undermined the integrity of the judicial process.
The verdict will be enforced should she return or surrender.
Reuters, in its headline “Bangladesh ex-PM Hasina in absentia gets six months in jail for contempt of court,” detailed the leaked phone call, allegations of political interference, and the broader context of her political downfall.
Bloomberg described the ruling as the first formal conviction against Hasina since her removal from office, highlighting the enforcement conditions tied to her return.
U.S. News & World Report noted that this sentence comes amid five existing arrest warrants against her and forms part of a wider prosecutorial push involving charges of both contempt and crimes against humanity.
Indian media outlets have also given extensive coverage.
The Economic Times underscored the historical weight of the ruling, while Times of India and Business Today discussed the tribunal’s bench composition and the content of the controversial phone call.
Pakistan’s Dawn characterised the ruling as a milestone case, detailing the tribunal’s warning that Hasina’s sentence will be “executed upon return.”
Right-wing Indian publication Swarajya offered a summary based on reporting from Bangladesh media, noting the audio transcript’s political implications and the tribunal’s emphasis on the rule of law.
With the international press closely following developments in Dhaka, today’s ruling marks a turning point not only in Hasina’s legal battles but also in Bangladesh’s evolving post-Hasina political landscape.
Prior to this, Hasina faced multiple charges, including extortion and graft during the 2007–08 caretaker government. However, none of these led to a conviction, many were dismissed, stayed, or resolved in her favour when she returned to power in 2009.