A Dhaka court on Tuesday ordered the seizure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina‘s residence, ‘Sudhasadan,’ along with other properties owned by her family members, who are in exile in India. 124 bank accounts linked to her family also have been frozen, according to an official.
The ruling was issued by Dhaka metropolitan senior special judge Zakir Hossain Ghalib following an application by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The seized properties include assets owned by Hasina’s son, Sajib Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, sister Sheikh Rehana, and her children, Tulip Siddique and Radwan Mujib Siddique. Hasina’s late husband, nuclear scientist MA Wazed Miah, was nicknamed Sudha Miah, after whom ‘Sudhasadan’ was named.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s ministry of foreign affairs has lodged a protest with the Indian government over what it calls “false and fabricated” statements made by Hasina on social media and other platforms.
In a diplomatic note to India’s acting High Commissioner in Dhaka, Bangladesh urged New Delhi to take steps to prevent her from making such remarks, which it claims are inciting instability.
On August 5, a student-led movement ousted Hasina after weeks of protests and violent clashes that left over 600 people dead. The 77-year-old leader fled to India, and an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was installed.