Abnormal Rise in Wealth: ‘Govt will be tough on MP candidates: AL
Staff Reporter :
Ruling party Awami League’s (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Thursday vowed stern actions against the party candidates contesting the upcoming national polls whose wealth increased exponentially.
If any candidate’s income has increased abnormally, action will be taken against them “”Even if no action can be taken at this moment, action will be taken after the election as the government is only conducting routine work.
Strong measures will be taken after the election,” Quader said at a press conference at the party’s central office in Dhanmondi.
He was responding to a question referring to the a Transparency International Bangladesh’s (TIB) report that said a record 571 candidates participating in the upcoming polls have movable assets worth over
Tk one hundred crore or more.
“The government has nothing to do now, it is busy with routine work. However, the prime minister said she will learn from her past mistakes,” he added.
TIB on 26 December revealed a report, formed by analysing affidavits submitted by candidates for the 7 January parliamentary election.
According to the report, 10 MPs made between 4,000% and 8,000% gains in the last 15 years.
In 2008, the number was 274 and in 2018, it was 522. The TIB report also highlighted the discrepancies in the affidavits submitted by the aspirants for the upcoming 12th parliamentary election.
It questioned the authenticity of candidates’ income, wealth, loans, and debt disclosed to the Election Commission.
TIB accused a minister, who remains unnamed, of owning “undisclosed overseas companies” engaged in real estate business. His total assets were valued at around Tk 2,312 crore.
Movable or liquid assets refer to bank deposits, fixed deposits, savings certificates, government bonds and cash. Real estates are not liquid assets.
This year, the Awami League saw the highest rise in the number of candidates with liquid assets of over Tk 1 crore. In 2008, 28 percent of the AL candidates had liquid assets of over Tk 1 crore, and in 2024, it is 86.96 percent.
This constitutes 235 of the 286 AL nominees running for parliament.
Commenting on BNP’s movement, Quader today said the party has lost people’s support.
“If there was public support [for BNP’s movement], no party would have to carry out sneak attacks to oust the government,” said the AL general secretary.
Quader also said the incidents of violence occurring in different constituencies “isolated.”
“It is normal. No candidate will boycott the election,” he said.
He hoped that candidates will be able to bring voters to the polling centres by convincing them.
