What Hasina, Khaleda have
The annual income of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has gone up slightly in the last 10 years. The cash in hand of both leaders decreased.
The AL chief faces no cases, but her archrival, now in jail, faces 33.
The information came up in the affidavits they submitted along with the nomination papers to returning officers.
Currently, Hasina has nearly Tk 7.2 crore deposited in banks and other financial institutions. The amount was Tk 1.03 crore in 2014 and Tk 3.1 crore in 2008, her affidavit says.
Hasina's annual earnings dropped to Tk 33,34,634 in 2018 from Tk 70,14,010 in 2014. It was nearly Tk 29,77,067 in 2008, it said.
The affidavit, however, does not include the monthly salary of Tk 1,15,000 that she is entitled to as the PM.
When Hasina became prime minister in January 2009, she had Tk 1.5 lakh in cash, according to her 2008 election affidavit. The affidavit for the 2014 polls says the amount rose to Tk 4.98 lakh that year.
However, it came down to Tk 84,575 in 2018, according to the affidavit she submitted for the December 30 polls. She would contest for Gopalganj-3 and Rangpur-6.
In 2014, the Awami League president's earnings were shown to have come from an unspecified number of fisheries, but the latest affidavit does not mention any fisheries and instead includes income from royalties.
Additionally, in the last five years, the PM's investment in saving certificates has gone down from Tk 5.1 crore to Tk 5 lakh.
The worth of gold owned by Hasina has remained the same at Tk 13.25 lakh since 2008.
Her affidavit showed that the PM did not own any homes, and had six acres as property. She also declared one unnamed vehicle worth Tk 6 lakh that was obtained as a gift.
In the section of the affidavit asking incumbent candidate to self-assess how much of their campaign-time promises have been realised during their last term, the PM stated, “I have achieved way more than I targeted in many regards. Examples include power production, agriculture, health, education and information communication technology.”
Hasina has been acquitted from all 16 of the cases that were filed against her before 2008. Prior to the 10th national election in 2014, that number stood at 11.
KHALEDA ZIA
In her affidavit, Khaleda Zia showed the house on Shaheed Mainul Road at Dhaka Cantonment as her immovable property, although she does not own it.
On April 8, 2009, the government cancelled the allotment of the house due to a number of anomalies regarding the allotment within the military zone. Khaleda had to leave the house in November 2010.
In the affidavit submitted along with nomination papers to the returning officer's office, Khaleda said the house is worth only Tk 5.
The BNP chief was allotted one third of another house, in Gulshan, for Tk 100, according to the affidavit.
Khaleda, who has been in jail since February after being convicted in two corruption cases, filed nomination papers for Bogra-6, 7 and Feni 1.
The statement shows her annual income rose by Tk 2.23 lakh in the last 10 years from 12.97 lakh in 2008.
The money comes mainly from renting house/apartment/shop and investments in share, savings and bank deposits.
The affidavit shows there has been a drastic fall in the amount of cash she has. From Tk 36.52 lakh in 2008, it came down to Tk 50,000 in 2018.
However, Khaleda deposits with different banks and other financial institutions has increased. Currently, she has Tk 4.77 crore while the amount was Tk 2.75 crore in 2008, the statement shows.
The BNP chief has investments of Tk 5.54 crore in saving certificates and fixed deposits. The amount was nil 10 years ago.
Khaleda, now facing 33 cases, claims to be self-educated. She did not mention any information about formal education.
The former premier has debt amounting Tk 1.58 crore, according to the affidavit. She got 50 tolas of gold and ornaments as marriage gift, added the documents.
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