Bangladesh Government Preparing to Sell Sheikh Hasina’s Ancestral Home, Car and Gold Jewelry

The Bangladesh government has begun preparations to clarify the legal procedures concerning the property of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Public prosecutors at the International Crimes Tribunal say that the rules will clearly define the procedures for confiscating the properties of convicted individuals, auctioning or selling them, and using the proceeds to compensate victims and the families of those killed. This could pave the way for action against properties registered in Sheikh Hasina’s name. However, it would be premature to say that Sheikh Hasina’s ancestral home will be directly sold. The course of action will depend on factors such as whose name the property is registered under, who its actual owner is, and against whom the court’s order is enforceable.

According to a report, Chief Public Prosecutor Mohammad Amin Islam told reporters on Monday, September 7, that the International Crimes Tribunal Act and existing regulations provide for the confiscation of property, the imposition of fines, and compensation for victims. However, they do not clearly specify which government mechanism should be used to auction or sell confiscated property. According to public prosecutors, once the regulations are amended, the government’s administrative branch will be able to take action under a clear legal framework to implement court orders. Officials have also indicated that the proposed amendments could be applied to judgments that have already been issued, meaning the changes could also affect previous rulings.

It is worth noting that in the mass killing case, the tribunal sentenced Sheikh Hasina and several others to death and ordered the confiscation of their properties. This has raised questions about which of the properties they declared can be directly confiscated. According to the affidavit submitted for the 12th National Parliamentary Election in 2024, Sheikh Hasina had movable and immovable assets worth approximately 434 million taka in her name. These included bank deposits, a vehicle, gold jewelry, furniture, and land.

Dhanmondi House No. 32, widely known as Sheikh Hasina’s ancestral home, is the most significant property in this case. The house is reportedly not Sheikh Hasina’s personal property but is registered in the name of the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust. For this reason, it may not be easy to confiscate the property by treating it as Sheikh Hasina’s personal asset.

According to legal experts, property belonging to a trust cannot be confiscated in the same way as an individual’s personal property unless there is a separate legal basis or a court order. Similarly, Dhanmondi’s “Sudha Sadan” is reportedly registered in the names of Sheikh Hasina’s children, Sajeeb Wazed and Saima Wazed. The Garden House in Gazipur was also inherited by Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, and their children. Therefore, separate verification of ownership and legal status will be necessary before any action can be taken against these properties.