A Bangladeshi court has sentenced the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to six years in prison for money laundering.

Arafat Rahman Koko was convicted of laundering through banks in Singapore $2.7 million in bribes from foreign companies. He was accused of accepting the money in exchange for helping the firms obtain government contracts.

Koko was tried in absentia. He has reportedly been living in Bangkok since 2008, when he was released on parole for medical treatment.

Prosecutors say Koko will be arrested when he returns to Bangladesh or is surrendered to authorities.

The court on Thursday also sentenced Ismail Hossain Saimon, son of a former shipping minister, to six years in prison. The men were fined more than $5 million for their crimes.

Analysts say the verdict could fuel street protests by former Prime Minister Khaleda's Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its Islamist allies, who say the charges against Koko are politically motivated.