Our Correspondent, Barisal
The forty-six candidates out of 60 stated that they had 1211 tolas of gold ornaments, and quoted the value of gold as Tk.100 to 1200 per tola.
Musfiq Ahmed Shamim, Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer of Barisal, said that according to the income tax rule and religious law, valuation of gold must be determined according to the present market value at the time of declaration. However, he expressed his ignorance about its implementation in statements of election candidatures.
Manirul Islam, Deputy Election Commissioner in charge, claimed that under election rule, valuation would be determined according to purchase price. But he failed to explain that how could he know the time of purchase and value.
After analyzing the statements of the candidates it was found that seven candidates of Barisal-1 constituency have 326 tolas gold ornaments, eight candidates of Barisal-2 have 106 tolas, 10 candidates of Barisal-3 have 281 tolas, seven candidates of Barisal-4 have 124 tolas, nine candidates of Barisal-5 have 185 tolas and five candidates of Barisal-6 constituency have 189 tolas gold ornaments in possession of them or their wives.
Among them Zahiruddin Swapan, central BNP leader, former MP and independent candidate at Barisal-1 constituency has 60 tolas of gold ornaments and does not know the values. His rival grand alliance candidate AL leader Advocate Talukdar Md. Yunus has 30 tolas gold valuing Tk.60,000.
Talukdar Omar Ali, candidate of Zaker Party who later withdrew his nomination paper declared that he has eight tolas of gold ornaments valuing Tk.1, 000 only. Although nomination paper of BNP leader four party alliance candidate Abdus Sobahan was, later, cancelled, he claimed that he and his wife have 125 tolas of gold ornaments gained as weeding gifts without showing any valuation.
In Barisal-2 constituency former BNP whip and independent candidate Shahidul Huq Zamal without quoting any amount of gold ornaments only said that it valued Tk.35, 000. However four party alliance candidate BNP leader Sharfuddin Santu said that he and his two wives have 40 tolas gold ornaments valued Tk.2.5 lakhs.
Grand alliance candidate of the same constituency AL leader Manirul Islam Moni declared that he and his wife has 50 tolas gold ornaments valued Tk.5,400 only. On other hand Saima Jalil, widow of late freedom fighter Major M A Jalil and Bikolpodhara candidate has no gold ornament.
Begum Selima Rahman, former BNP minister and four party alliance candidate for Barisal-3 constituency without quoting total tola of ornaments said that she has gold ornaments worth Tk.50,000. Golam Kibria Tipu has gold ornaments valuing Tk.60,000 without quoting any weight.
Central BNP leader and independent candidate Advocate Jainul Abedin has 66 tolas ornament received as gifts without quoting any value.
Bakhtiaruddin, independent candidate, has 28 tolas ornament worth Tk.1.3 lakhs, Nur Muhammad Holadar of Zaker Party has 60 tolas gold ornament valued Tk.1.5 lakhs.
Advocate Afzalul Karim, AL leader later withdrawn his nomination paper but declared that he has 20 tolas gold ornaments valued Tk. 45.000 and former BNP lawmaker before withdrawal his nomination paper stated that he received 22 tolas gold ornaments as gifts, while Col (rtd.) Isahaq of JP claimed although he has 40 tolas gold ornaments but does not know its valuation.
Rashed Khan Menon, Workers Party president, who later withdrew his candidature from this constituency said that he and his wife has 40 tolas gold ornament valuing Tk.1, 00,000. Barisal-4 constituency Mosaddek Billah Madani, son of late Charmonair Pir and Islami Andolon leader acknowledged that he has 25 tolas and BNP leader Wahid Harun has 30 tolas without quoting any valuation.
On other hand BNP leader four party alliance candidate Mezbahuddin Farhad has 13 tolas ornaments valued Tk. 65 thousand while his rival grand alliance candidate AL leader Maidul Islam has 30 tolas ornaments valued Tk.50 thousand.
Shah Muhammad Abul Hossain, former BNP MP and minister has ornaments worth only Tk.6,000. Abdus Sattar Sikdar, Janata League candidate for this constituency, said he has only one tola gold valuing Tk.18,000 and independent candidate Shahidul Alam Engineer said that he has 25 tolas valuing Tk.20,000 only.
Advocate Mojibor Rahman Sarwar, former BCC Mayor,BNP whip, district BNP president and four party alliance candidate, without quoting any valuation stated that he has 80 tolas gold ornaments received as gifts, while his rival grand alliance candidate AL leader Col.(rtd.) Zahid Faruk Shamim, said that he has 26 tolas valuing Tk. 1, 00,000 only. Independent candidate and rebel AL leader and freedom fighter Mahbubuddin Birbikram said that his 18 tolas ornaments valued Tk. 60,000 only.
Some other candidates who filed nomination papers for this constituency like Bikolpa Dhara leader Principal Rashid Khan has 10 tola ornaments valuing Tk.25 thousand, Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, son of late Pir of Charmonai and Islami Andolon candidate, has 10 tola ornaments worth Tk. 60,000 thousand, Mizanur Rahman Bachchu has eight tola gold ornaments valuing taka 1,20,000 and independent candidate Md. Rahamatullah without giving rate quoted 35 tola ornaments under his family custody.
In Barisal-6 constituency Jatiya Party secretary general and grand alliance candidate A B M Ruhul Amin Howladar has 100 tolas while his rival former BNP MP and four party alliance candidate Abul Hossain Khan has 30 tolas which he received as gifts.
AL leader Major General (rtd.) Hafiz Mallik has 30 tolas valuing Tk.40, 000, BNP leader Brig. (rtd.) Anwar Hossain Chowdhury has 25 tolas valuing Tk.2.00.000 but later both of them withdrew their candidatures following decisions of their respective party.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
