A Bangladeshi university lecturer has been sentenced to six months in jail after he posted a Facebook status wishing for the death of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Ruhul Khandakar, who was sentenced by Bangladesh’s high court in absentia because he is studying in Australia, posted comments last year implying that he wanted Hasina to die.
According to The BBC, Khandakar posted the derogatory comment following the death of one of the country’s best filmmakers, Tareq Masud, in a road accident in August.
Officials said Khandakar blamed the government for the fact there are so many road deaths in Bangladesh.
“Tareq Masud died as a result of government giving licence to unqualified drivers. Many die, why does not Sheikh Hasina die?” Khandakar said in his Facebook post.
When the comments appeared in the media, there were protests by the PM’s supporters.
According to the report, the high court ordered Khandakar to return to Bangladesh from Australia, and also directed his university employers to take action against him.