Sheikh Hasina's Secret Locker Found In Dhaka: What Lies Inside Beyond Money?

Last Updated:September 11, 2025, 15:32 IST

Sheikh Hasina’s secret locker seized at Pubali Bank Motijheel by NBR, with approx Rs 40 lakh in assets under scrutiny amid Bangladesh’s political upheaval and anti-corruption probe

The development comes against the backdrop of the political upheaval of August last year, when Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government collapsed following massive student-led protests. (Image: Reuters)

A sensational revelation has shaken Bangladesh’s political landscape. The long-rumoured secret locker of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has finally been traced and seized by the country’s revenue authorities. Acting on confidential inputs, the Central Intelligence Unit of the Board of Revenue (NBR) on Wednesday morning sealed locker number 128 at Pubali Bank’s Motijheel branch, located in the Army Kalyan Bhavan, Dhaka.

According to reports in the Dhaka Tribune, the locker is registered in Sheikh Hasina’s name. Its discovery has triggered widespread speculation across the country, with citizens eager to know what valuables, apart from money, could be hidden inside.

NBR sources confirmed that along with the locker, two accounts belonging to Sheikh Hasina have also been identified at the same branch. One contains a fixed deposit receipt (FDR) worth 12 lakh taka (approx. Rs 8.71 lakh) while the second shows deposits of 44 lakh taka (approx. Rs 31.94 lakh). In total, the tax department has seized assets worth 56 lakh taka.

Officials said the accounts and locker have been taken over for extensive scrutiny. While initial intelligence suggests that the locker may contain gold ornaments and sensitive documents, no confirmation has yet been provided. An NBR officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the exact inventory will only be revealed after further investigation.

The development comes against the backdrop of the political upheaval of August last year, when Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government collapsed following massive student-led protests. Hasina resigned and subsequently left the country, paving the way for an interim administration.

Since assuming office, the interim government has launched sweeping investigations into alleged tax evasion and corruption linked to Sheikh Hasina and her family. The seizure of the locker, officials say, is part of this broader campaign. Searches for her assets in other banks are reportedly underway.

The discovery is expected to have far-reaching political consequences. Analysts suggest the findings could further fuel debates about the financial dealings of Hasina and her family. The interim government has described the action as a decisive move in its anti-corruption drive, while Awami League loyalists have dismissed it as political vendetta.

The NBR, however, maintains that the investigation will follow due legal process. “Every asset, account and document will be examined under proper procedure," an official remarked, hinting that more disclosures could surface in the coming weeks.

What Next?

The biggest question now is what secrets the locker holds. Will investigators unearth large sums of gold, foreign currency or papers linked to alleged corruption? Or will the contents prove inconclusive against the former leader?

For now, the discovery of Sheikh Hasina’s locker stands as a turning point, intertwining the nation’s political drama with an unfolding financial investigation.

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