The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Wednesday convicted and sentenced ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to six months in jail in a contempt of court case, reports BSS.
The tribunal also convicted and sentenced the leader of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Shakil Akand Bulbul, to two months' imprisonment.
The prosecution had filed the complaint against the two over a leaked phone conversation between the Awami League chairperson and the leader of the party's student wing.
In an audio clip of the conversation, Hasina is heard telling Bulbul, "I have had 227 cases filed against me, so I have received a licence to kill 227 people."
On April 30, ICT Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam brought the matter before the tribunal, describing the conversation as an attempt to intimidate witnesses in the ongoing trials related to crimes against humanity during the July Uprising last year.
He said that such remarks, if unaddressed, could hinder legal proceedings.
The tribunal, accepting the complaint, asked the two accused to submit their explanations on May 15.
As they failed to submit their explanations, the tribunal asked them to appear on May 25.
Since they refrained from appearing that day as well, the tribunal ordered that notices be published in two national dailies, asking Sheikh Hasina and Shakil Akand Bulbul to appear before it on June 3.
The notices were published on May 26 in the daily Jugantor and the daily New Age.
In its judgement, the three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, said the sentences would come into effect from the day of their arrest or surrender.
Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam, state defence counsel Amir Hossain and amicus curiae AY Moshiuzzaman took part in the hearing.
On June 25, the hearing of the case was adjourned till Wednesday. The tribunal had passed the order, allowing a time plea filed by Moshiuzzaman.
The same day, Advocate Aminul Gani Tipu, who was appointed as the state defence counsel to defend the case of Sheikh Hasina and Bulbul, withdrew his name from the post, citing a conflict of interest.
After that, Advocate Amir Hossain was appointed as the state defence counsel. The court on June 19 appointed Moshiuzzaman as amicus curiae – an impartial adviser to the court – in the case.
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