Gazipur, Khulna City Polls: AL candidates far richer than BNP counterparts

The two Awami League mayoral candidates in Khulna and Gazipur city corporations are far richer than their BNP counterparts. But in terms of the number of cases facing them, the AL hopefuls lag behind their archrivals from the BNP.

Of the four, Jahangir Alam, the AL mayoral candidate in Gazipur, tops all with a yearly income of Tk 2 crore, according to the affidavits submitted to the Election Commission.

His movable assets are worth around Tk 9 crore, including Tk 7.48 crore in cash -- the highest among the four.

Talukder Abdul Khaleque, the AL pick in Khulna, has an annual income of Tk 51 lakh from farmland, fisheries business, shares, savings certificates and bank interest.

Besides, he has movable assets worth Tk 5.47 crore, including Tk 2.42 crore in three banks, Tk 2 crore in shares and bonds and two SUVs.

Khaleque, who resigned from parliament last Wednesday as Bagerhat-3 lawmaker to run for the mayor's office, has Tk 9.78 lakh in cash. 

Besides, his wife has movable assets worth Tk 3.44 crore, including Tk 2.15 crore in cash and Tk 20.44 lakh at banks. She also has an SUV worth Tk 48.6 lakh.

Elections to the two city corporations are due on May 15.

There are 57 general wards in Gazipur and and 31 in Khulna.

In 2013, BNP candidates Moniruzzaman Moni and Prof MA Mannan were elected mayors in Khulna and Gazipur city corporations.

Khaleque's archrival Nazrul Islam Manju has a yearly income of Tk 2.43 lakh, which comes from house rent, his only income source, according to the affidavit. 

He also mentioned in the affidavit that his business outlet is now closed.

Manju has cash worth Tk 3 lakh and his wife Tk 2 lakh.

The BNP candidate in Gazipur, Hasan Uddin Sarkar, earns about Tk 10 lakh a year from house rent and business, his affidavit shows.

His cash in hand and cash at bank stand at Tk 64 lakh while that of his wife at about Tk 77 lakh.

Interestingly, Jahangir Alam, the AL candidate in Gazipur, made no mention of any assets in his wife's name.

CASES

None of the AL candidates faces any cases.

Khaleque had nine cases against him, but they were all withdrawn or dismissed.

The two cases filed against Jahangir Alam were also withdrawn.  

BNP's Nazrul Islam Manju stands accused in four cases filed between 2013 and 2018. Hasan Uddin Sarkar is facing two cases.