M Abul Kalam Azad
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia owns more assets than Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina, although Khaleda’s annual earning is less than her rival’s, according to the wealth statements submitted by the two leaders to the Election Commission.
Khaleda’s annual earning amounts to nearly Tk 25 lakh while Hasina earns Tk 30 lakh, and the BNP chief owns assets worth about Tk 3.77 crore while the AL chief owns assets worth about Tk 3.48 crore.
Hasina’s annual earning of Tk 20.79 lakh comes from shares, savings and other bank deposits while Khaleda put her highest chunk of earning worth Tk 12.97 lakh in the miscellaneous section without mentioning sources.
Hasina earns Tk 4.50 lakh from agriculture and Tk 4.48 lakh from house rent while Khaleda earns Tk 5.23 lakh from house rent and Tk 7.73 lakh from shares, savings and other bank deposits.
According to their affidavits accompanying their applications for candidacy in the 9th parliamentary election, Hasina has movable property worth about Tk 3.47 crore while her immovable property amounts to Tk 1.7 lakh. The largest chunk of her assets is deposited in different banks and financial institutions, which is worth around Tk 3.18 crore.
The AL chief has gold and ornaments worth Tk 13.25 lakh, vehicles worth Tk 6 lakh and furniture worth Tk 7.40 lakh. She also has cash worth Tk 1.50 lakh.
On the other hand, the BNP chief mentioned that out of her movable property, she has Tk 36.52 lakh in cash, Tk 2.75 crore deposited in various banks and financial institutions, electronics worth Tk 4.35 lakh, and furniture worth Tk 2.60 lakh. She also has 50 tolas of gold.
In the immovable property section, Khaleda, who is contesting in the December 29 parliamentary election in Bogra-6 and 7 and in Feni-1 constituencies, disclosed that she owns land worth Tk 12,300, and that she is also the one third owner of a house.
Both of the chief politicos mentioned politics as their profession and that neither of them has any foreign currency in possession.
Hasina, who will contest in the general election for the seats of Rangpur-6, Gopalganj-3 and Bagerhat-1, has a Bachelor of Arts degree while Khaleda mentioned that she is self-educated.
The AL chief is currently facing 16 cases which were either suspended by the court or are under investigation while the four cases the BNP chief is facing were also suspended by the court.
Hasina did not fill in the section 7 of the mandatory disclosures that asks candidates to mention the promises they had made to voters during previous elections, while Khaleda said in the section that she had tried her best for the overall development of her constituency.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
