• Sheikh Hasina sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court in absentia.
• Charges are linked to remarks threatening witnesses during ongoing legal proceedings.
• The ruling comes as part of broader accusations against Hasina for her government's violent crackdown on protests.
• Prosecutors cite the deaths of 1,400 people during the unrest following her ousting last year.
• Hasina's supporters claim the charges are politically motivated attacks by the interim government.

Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s former prime minister, has been sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), making it the first conviction against her since her ousting in August last year. The ruling was made in her absence as she is currently in India, having fled the country following a student-led uprising, and will only take effect upon her return or surrender, according to chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam. This case stems from comments she allegedly made threatening witnesses in ongoing court hearings, marking a significant prosecution move against a former head of state, as reported by Dawn and Al Jazeera.

The contempt charges against Hasina emerged from a leaked audio recording in which she allegedly stated, "There are 227 cases against me, so I now have a license to kill 227 people." This statement has been characterized by prosecutors as undermining the judicial process, contributing to the fears expressed by some witnesses involved in current legal proceedings, as reiterated by Channel News Asia and Reuters.

In addition to the contempt ruling, Hasina also faces serious charges related to crimes against humanity concerning her government's actions during the protests that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,400 individuals, according to the UN. Chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam indicated that the separate trial concerning these violent incidents commenced on June 1, a focus of ongoing legal scrutiny for the ousted leader and her administration, as mentioned by India Times and Anadolu Agency.

While her legal troubles continue, supporters of Hasina criticize the proceedings as politically motivated, alleging that the interim government's actions are aimed at suppressing opposition. The interim administration, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, defends these legal efforts as necessary for restoring accountability and public trust in Bangladesh's judicial system, according to TRT Global and India Times.