Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has claimed that wealth of the ruling class is bound to increase and it has been a worldwide trend.
He made the observation amid the criticism faced by the ruling party members for sharp increase in their wealth as has been indicated by the statements submitted by election candidates and provided by the Election Commission.He was faced with barrage of questions from media persons after he submitted income tax return at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
One of them asked as to how assets of some MPs and ministers have increased many fold in the last five years.
“The country has progressed and so has business and people’s income,” was his quick reply.
According to him, those in power were always wealthy in all the countries in the world.
“Heads of the barbaric clans were wealthy in ancient times. Incomes of those who stay in power increase. It is a normal process.”
Asked if the Anti Corruption Commission would investigate it, he said, “The Anti Corruption Commission is an independent institution. They may investigate it if they want.”
When asked whether the National Board of Revenue (NBR) would look into the matter, he said, “The NBR must look into this.”
Those who are contesting in the 10th elections had to submit their accounts of wealth, in an affidavit to the Election Commission as per the law.
After procuring statements from the Election Commission, media outlets were running reports on how much wealthier the leaders have become in the last five years.
Some ruling party leaders have objected to these reports.
Awami League joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif terming those reports as ‘false’ had said such reports would cause the rise of a ‘third power.’
When his attention was drawn to Hanif’s comment, Muhith said, “I submit my income tax returns every year. I do not comply with this (Hanif’s comments).”
“Personally my view is the account of public representatives should be an open book.”
Finance Minister Muhith owns 15.8 million as compared to Tk 10 million and 14 thousand he had in 2008-09. This means, his wealth has increased by 5.8 million in the last five years.-bdnews24.com
