Bangladesh tax intelligence seizes ex-PM Hasina's bank locker

The locker can't be opened as one of its two keys remains in Hasina’s possession

The intelligence unit of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has taken hold of a locker belonging to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

The locker at Pubali Bank PLS's Sena Kalyan Bhaban branch in Dhaka’s Motijheel was seized on Wednesday morning, according to Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) Director-General Ahsan Habib.

The locker's number is 128. Of the two keys to the locker, one remains in Hasina’s possession.

Asked about what was inside the locker, a senior CIC official said: "It has to be opened to find out. But to do that, we need both the owner's key and the key held by the bank. Sheikh Hasina is not here, but she has her key. So, now we will see what legal steps can be taken."

The rationale behind the safeguard is that in the absence of the owner, items could be removed from it or the owner could later claim things that were not there, according to officials.

A senior Pubali Bank official said the locker was seized under a court order. The entire locker will now remain under the supervision of the NBR's intelligence unit.

"The locker will be opened under a court order, which will be carried out entirely by the NBR."