Most Bagerhat runners not rich, their affidavits say

Most of the candidates contesting the national election in Bagerhat will meet their polls expenses by taking donations and loans from their relatives and well wishers as they are not financially well off.
This was learnt from the affidavits they submitted with their nomination papers to the Election Commission.
The highest estimated polls expense of a candidate in the district is Tk 11 lakh while the lowest is Tk 50,000, according to the affidavits.
In Bagerhat-1 constituency four candidates are contesting. AL chief Sheikh Hasina in her affidavit said she would meet the whole Tk 11 lakh of her polls expense from own source. Her nearest rival BNP's Sheikh Wahiduzzaman Dipu showed his estimated election expense as Tk 11 lakh. Of the amount Tk four lakh will come from his own source and Tk four lakh will come from BNP central election fund.
Of other two candidates, BNP's Sheikh Shawkat Hossain's and Islami Andolon Bangladesh nominee Md Liakat Ali Sheikh. Sheikh Shawkat Hossain's annual income is Tk 2.05 lakh while Islami Andolon's Liakat Ali's income is Tk 1.60 lakh. Shawkat's estimated election expense is Tk five lakh--Tk one lakh from own source and collect the rest from relatives as donations. Liakat will collect Tk 5.20 lakh from relatives and well wishers.
In Bagerhat-2 seat, among the four candidates only BNP nominee MA Salam will meet his estimated election expense of Tk 11 lakh from own fund. In this seat AL candidate Mir Shawkat Ali Badsha will spend Tk nine lakh. He will collect the amount from different individuals.
LDP's Chasi AM Saidur Rahman's income is Tk one lakh. His estimated election cost is Tk four lakh. Though Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Md Jalal Uddin Hawlader does not have any money of his own he has prepared a budget of Tk 5.60 lakh.
Awami League candidate in Bagerhat-3 constituency Habibunnahar will meet her election expense of Tk nine lakh from her own fund. Her annual income is Tk three lakh.
In Bagerhat-4 seat AL candidate Md Mozammel Hossain's annual income is Tk 2,75 lakh. His election expense will stand at Tk 5.75 lakh. He will meet Tk four lakh from own fund and the rest will come from relatives as loans. In the seat Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Md Shahidul Islam has shown his estimated election expense at Tk 50,000 only. This is the lowest election budget shown in Bagerhat district.