832.5 bhori gold found in Hasina’s two lockers at Agrani Bank

Authorities have found 832.5 bhari of gold from two bank lockers belonging to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, at the head office of Agrani Bank.

A joint team from the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) opened the lockers on Tuesda, November 25, with court permission and in the presence of a magistrate. The gold ornaments were subsequently seized.

A senior CIC official and the magistrate present confirmed the development on condition of anonymity. The Chief Adviser’s Senior Assistant Press Secretary, Foyez Ahammed, also shared the information on his verified Facebook page. This marks the first time any bank locker of Sheikh Hasina has been opened with the court’s approval.

How the gold was found

Sources said the CIC and ACC team opened locker numbers 751 and 753 at Agrani Bank’s Dilkusha head office branch, recovering a total of 832.5 bhori of gold. The lockers were seized by the CIC following the operation.

Following the collapse of the Awami League government on August 5 last year amid a mass student–public uprising, the interim government launched extensive investigations into alleged tax evasion and corruption by Sheikh Hasina and her family. As part of the probe, the CIC began seizing lockers and accounts linked to her across various banks.

Earlier seizures

On September 10, the CIC raided Pubali Bank’s Motijheel Corporate Branch at Sena Kalyan Bhaban and seized locker number 128 registered under Sheikh Hasina’s name. The team also froze two of her accounts there, which held a Tk 12 lakh FDR and Tk 44 lakh, respectively. Withdrawals from both accounts were subsequently barred.

A week later, on September 17, CIC investigators traced the two Agrani Bank lockers that were opened on Tuesday.

Further investigations are ongoing.