Revolutionary Workers Party candidate Saiful earns Tk4.2 lakh a year from talk shows

Saiful Haque, general secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, has disclosed an annual income of Tk4.2 lakh from talk shows, according to his affidavit.

Saiful Haque will contest the 13th national parliamentary election from the Dhaka-12 constituency with the "spade" symbol. In his affidavit submitted to the Election Commission, he mentioned four professions—politics, writer, agriculture, and talk show participant.

The affidavit, available on the Election Commission's website, also states that his wife (dependent) earns Tk3.2 lakh annually from talk shows.

Saiful Haque submitted his nomination papers to the returning officer at the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner's Office on 29 December.

An analysis of the affidavit shows that Saiful Haque, an HSC graduate, earns Tk18,000 annually from agriculture and Tk4,25,300 from savings certificates. He has Tk51,088 in cash, while his wife has Tk2,90,078 in cash.

His total annual income is shown as Tk8,63,300, while his wife's annual income is Tk7,87,799. According to income tax returns, Saiful Haque's declared assets amount to Tk47,21,088, while his wife's assets total Tk1,13,98,078.

He owns an apartment valued at Tk66 lakh and a jointly owned mixed fruit orchard worth Tk7 lakh. He also owns one acre of agricultural land inherited from his family.

The affidavit further states that Saiful Haque has savings certificates worth Tk40 lakh in his own name and Tk45 lakh in his wife's name. He owns a motor vehicle valued at Tk11.5 lakh. He possesses 41 bhori of gold, while his wife owns 70 bhori, all received as gifts.

His non-institutional liabilities stand at Tk4.8 lakh. The affidavit also mentions that he has no government or other outstanding dues and that no cases are pending against him.