KCC election affidavit: AL candidate's wife's income 21 times greater, BNP candidate's wife has 19 times more cash

The affidavits of the mayoral candidates of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) have been submitted to the Election Commission (EC). This year, President of BNP's Metropolitan unit Nazrul Islam Manzu is standing as the mayoral candidate from BNP, while Talukdar Abdul Khaleque was nominated as the Awami League candidate.

Manzu's income is high despite business not taking off

During the 9th parliamentary election on 2008, Manzu's annual income was shown as Tk195,000, while his expenditure was shown as Tk100,000. At that time, his main source of income was his business. This year's affidavit shows his income being Tk243,000, while those dependent on him have an income of Tk282,000. On the other hand, even though his profession in the affidavit has been shown as business this year, it has also been mentioned that at this moment, his business is closed. His main source of income is house rent. However, his wife has 19 times more foreign currencies (dollar) in cash than Manzu himself. Furthermore, according to the affidavit, Manzu's mobile property includes Tk300,000 and $890 in cash. His wife has Tk200,000 and $17,454.32 in cash as mobile property. Other than that, Manzu owns a Toyota SUV. His wife owns 233.20 gm worth of gold jewellery. Manzu's mobile property in both his and his wife's name include 0.65 acres of land. They jointly own a 4 story building as well. In both of the cases, Manzu owns 2/7th of the properties. Manzu has a law degree. Currently, he has four criminal cases against him. Previously, he was acquitted of all charges in one case among the three filed in the Khulna police station. The rest of them are in progress.

Khaleque's income shown to have dropped 80%

Compared to the affidavit published in 2013, Awami League candidate Talukdar Abdul Khaleque's income has dropped to one fifth of what it was, according to the 2018 affidavit. In 2018, Khaleque's annual income has been shown as Tk4,175,555, which is almost 5 times less than his Tk46,255,600 income in 2013. Even though Khaleque's 2013 income increased by 171 times compared to his annual Tk270,000 income on 2008, this year, it has lessened by a great margin. According to the new affidavit, Khaleque earns Tk130,000 from agricultural land, Tk739,300 from fisheries, Tk851,580 from bank interests and Tk2,458,675 as wages for being a member of the parliament. However, Khaleque's affidavit also shows that his wife has 21 times greater liquid cash than him. Former Mayor Talukdar Abdul Khaleque has Tk978,750 in cash. But his wife has Tk21,556,798 in cash. Even though Khaleque was indicted in nine cases, he has been acquitted of all charges in all of the cases. The affidavit submitted to the EC further shows that Khaleque has Tk24,299,616 deposited in three banks, while his wife has Tk2,044,704 deposited in two banks. Khaleque also has Tk20,000,000 share in SBAC bank. He has Tk1,000,000 savings and a Tk1,000,000 FDR. His wife has savings worth Tk4,500,000 and a FDR of Tk1,694,949. Khaleque also has postal FDRs worth Tk1,800,000. Khaleque and his wife jointly own three vehicles. Among immobile property, he has almost 10 acres of ancestral agricultural land. He also owns other land and a 5 story building. Other than that, Khaleque has invested Tk13,662,900 in fisheries.