Did a Viral Audio Clip Just Seal Sheikh Hasina’s Fate?

July 2, 2025: In a dramatic development, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to six months in prison in a contempt of court case. The verdict was delivered by a three-member tribunal headed by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder on Wednesday.

The case stemmed from statements allegedly made by Hasina and Awami League leader Shakil Alam Bulbul about the tribunal’s handling of the July 2024 mass uprising case. The Chief Prosecutor had filed a contempt petition on April 30, accusing Hasina of undermining the tribunal’s authority.

Also Read: Goldman Sachs Elevates Raghav Maliah to Global Chairman of Investment Banking

According to formal charges, Hasina was identified as the mastermind behind a wave of violent acts during the anti-government movement of 2024. These allegedly included crimes against humanity, targeted killings, and the incineration of bodies—claims purportedly supported by a viral audio clip in which she allegedly said, “There are 227 cases against me, so I have a license to kill 227 people.” A CID forensic probe reportedly confirmed the clip’s authenticity.

The court noted that Hasina neither responded in person nor through legal counsel, despite a public notice. The ICT, therefore, exercised its power to sentence her in absentia.

Amid the fallout, the ruling Awami League dismissed the tribunal’s decision as a politically motivated move by “anti-national and anti-independence forces,” calling it a “mock trial” aimed at dismantling their leadership.

Notably, following her departure from Bangladesh on August 5, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed head of an interim government.