In the upcoming national parliamentary election, 18 candidates from different parties and independent candidates have declared immovable assets worth at least Tk100 crore or more, according to Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
Additionally, 571 candidates declared possession of assets worth at least Tk1 crore.
The prevalence of candidates with immovable assets worth Tk1 crore is notably higher in the upcoming election compared to previous ones, with the count being 274 in 2008, 202 in 2014, and 552 in 2018.
The TIB disclosed the information on Tuesday after scrutinizing data related to the candidates' personal belongings submitted to the Election Commission in their affidavits.
According to TIB, approximately 21.20% of the candidates possess assets ranging from Tk1 crore to Tk10 crore, 4.62% have assets worth between Tk10 crore and Tk50 crore, 1.07% own assets valued between Tk50 crore and Tk100 crore, and an additional 1.07% have assets exceeding Tk100 crore.
Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of the organization, mentioned that a candidate has shown the maximum wealth of Tk1,345 crore. This is the highest in terms of wealth.
Around 72.09% of the candidates have assets valued at less than Tk1 crore.
In the 12th national election, the majority of candidates, 235, with assets worth at least Tk1 crore are affiliated with the ruling Awami League. Following closely are independent candidates, with 163 of them having assets worth Tk1 crore.
In contrast, 47 candidates from Jatiya Party (JaPa), 17 from Jatiya Party (JP-Monju), seven from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, six from Trinamool BNP, and five from Bangladesh Workers Party possess assets worth at least Tk1 crore.
In the elections of 2008, 2014, 2018, and 2024, the percentage of candidates possessing assets worth at least Tk1 crore within Jatiya Party were 35.59%, 25.58%, 31.65%, and 20%, respectively.
For the Awami League, the corresponding percentages of candidates with assets worth over Tk1 crore are 27.94%, 61.54%, 83.15%, and 86.96%, respectively.
The BNP, which has boycotted the next election, had 44.71% candidates with more than Tk1 crore worth of assets in 2008 and 51.32% in 2018.
Meanwhile, the anti-corruption watchdog said an incumbent minister contesting the polls allegedly concealed ownership of foreign companies worth thousands of crores in an affidavit submitted to the Election Commission.
Six companies, jointly owned by the minister and his wife, are actively involved in foreign real estate business, with a total asset value exceeding Tk2,312 crore.
Although the TIB refrained from publicizing the identity of the minister in question, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of TIB, said that the information would be shared with government agencies, including the Election Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission, if they express interest in further investigation.
