Bangladesh bans media coverage of Hasina interview as court hands ally 10‑year sentence

Bangladesh’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser warned media organisations that broadcasting or reporting remarks made by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasana in a recent NDTV interview would breach court directives and could lead to legal action. The adviser said the government had historically considered the media a friend but insisted outlets respect the court’s ban, noting Hasina has claimed she will return to Bangladesh and raised concerns about attacks on religious minorities.

In a related development, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Hasanul Haque Inu, a former minister and ally of Hasina, to ten years in prison for crimes against humanity tied to the 2024 street protests. Inu was accused of ordering police killings, inciting violence and supporting “shoot‑on‑sight” orders during the July‑August 2024 uprisings that resulted in hundreds of deaths. The verdict follows earlier death sentences for three police officers and reflects the interim government’s broader effort to prosecute members of the ousted Awami League administration.

Both actions illustrate the interim government’s crackdown on the former leadership and its effort to control the narrative surrounding the protest‑related violence.