Bangladesh authorities have seized assets valued at approximately 760 billion taka (around $6.2 billion) linked to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her family, and ten affiliated business groups, officials announced Wednesday.

The move follows the ousting of Hasina in 2024 amid a student-led mass uprising that led to her fleeing the country for India. Since then, investigators have examined her alleged wealth accumulation during her 15-year tenure, which was marked by a strongman approach to governance. The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) reported that 570 billion taka worth of assets were confiscated domestically, with an additional 190 billion taka seized internationally.

Ikhtiar Mohammad Mamun, head of the BFIU, stated that 98 cases have been opened involving Hasina and associated individuals and entities. “We are still working to recover the money laundered overseas,” he said, expressing optimism about sharing progress before the end of the year.

Hasina has been convicted in absentia in several cases, including corruption charges related to the allocation of real estate in an upscale area of Dhaka. A court also sentenced her to death for crimes against humanity. She has remained in India since her departure in August 2024 but recently announced plans to return to Bangladesh by year’s end.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed emphasized the government’s intent to ensure that Hasina faces justice upon her return. The authorities have requested her extradition and underscored their commitment to enforcing the court verdicts. “The verdict will be implemented. The court will decide whether there is any scope for an appeal,” Salahuddin said.

The ongoing legal and financial actions against Hasina have deepened the political turmoil that followed her removal, as Bangladesh navigates issues of accountability and governance.