Not all of 832 bhori seized gold belong to Sheikh Hasina: ACC

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has stated that the 832 bhori of gold recovered from two lockers of Agrani Bank do not belong solely to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been removed from power. The recovered items include various gold ornaments, such as a gold boat and a gold deer.

At a press briefing held at the ACC headquarters on Wednesday, the commission’s Director General Md Akhtar Hossain presented the information.

According to the ACC, more than 422 bhori of gold were found in a locker at Agrani Bank’s principal branch registered in the names of Sheikh Hasina and Saima Wazed, while another 410 bhori were retrieved from a joint locker registered under the names of Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana. A gold boat and a gold deer were also found.

In addition, a locker registered under Sheikh Hasina’s name at Pubali Bank was found to contain only a small jute bag.

The ACC said that based on notes and descriptions found inside the lockers, it is presumed that the recovered gold belongs to Sheikh Hasina, Saima Wazed, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Sheikh Rehana and Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby. The commission will conduct necessary verification to confirm ownership and determine legal responsibility.

As part of a re-examination of asset declarations, the ACC opened three lockers at two banks registered under Sheikh Hasina’s name, recovering a total of 9,707 grams (832 bhori) of gold.

On 14 September, the ACC investigation team sought court permission from the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court to open the lockers. The court instructed that the lockers be opened in the presence of the judge, a gold expert from Bangladesh Bank, an NBR tax intelligence officer, a CIC-appointed official, and bank authorities.

Following the court order, three lockers were opened on Tuesday (25 November) at Pubali Bank PLC’s Motijheel Corporate Branch and Agrani Bank PLC’s Principal Branch. Locker number 128 at Pubali Bank was found to contain only an empty small jute bag.

Locker number 753 at Agrani Bank (registered under the names of Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana Siddiq) contained 4,783.56 grams of gold ornaments.

The ACC said that after reviewing the inventory, verifying ownership, and determining accurate value through certified goldsmiths, it will finalise conclusions regarding ownership and legal obligation.