Liton banks on AL leader's 'donation'

A major beneficiary of the Rajshahi City Corporation alone is financing the election expenditure of former mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton.
The other aspirants to the next month's mayoral election are getting funds from more than one donor.
Liton, general secretary of the Awami League's city unit, revealed in his affidavit on May 12  that Shamsuzzaman Awal was donating to him Tk 12 lakh, the upper limit being Tk 15 lakh, for the expenditure.
Awal, treasurer of the city AL, is constructing three multi-storied commercial buildings on RCC land under a public-private partnership agreement between him and the city corporation.
He would be enjoying 72 percent of the rent of two of the buildings -- Swapnachura and Daruchini -- and 58 percent of the third -- Muripotty Complex.
Awal is now dedicating more time to Liton ahead of the June 15 election than to his business.
Awal said, “Liton is a party member. Therefore, it is natural that I will stand by him,” adding that he had “earned the money legally”.
In his affidavit, Liton stated that he borrowed Tk 30 lakh from Farid Uddin, another beneficiary of the RCC. Farid had won the RCC Bhaban extension project and a number of other projects on road construction and repair works by tendering since 2008.
Liton, however, promised to spend Tk 14.46 lakh on the election, with around Tk 3 lakh out of his own pocket.
BNP candidate Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul stated that he would spend Tk 14.75 lakh.
Of the amount, Tk 1.75 lakh would be paid by himself, Tk 3 lakh by his brother-in-law and the rest by donations from friends and businesspersons, who were RCC beneficiaries before.
Shafiqul Haque Milon, an aspirant from the BNP, would spend Tk 5 lakh from his own earnings. He would borrow Tk 2 lakh from his brother, Tk 5 lakh from his wife and Tk 3 lakh from a well-wisher.
Jamaat's mayor candidate Mohammad Jahangir would spend Tk 4 lakh from his own income and borrow Tk 2 lakh from relatives and friends. Two people were donating Tk 1 lakh to him.
Independent candidate Habibur Rahman would spend Tk 1 lakh out of his own pocket and borrow Tk 5 lakh from a relative and two friends. Two relatives, two friends and two organisations were donating Tk 10 lakh to him.
Mir Mojammel Ali, another independent candidate, would spend Tk 4.83 lakh from own income and would borrow Tk 4 lakh from relatives. Four relatives would donate to him Tk 6 lakh.