Wealth, luxury, expensive cars — Khaleda Zia had none

The three-time prime minister and recently deceased BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia left behind no piles of gold or expensive jewellery. She retained only 50 tolas of gold received as gifts.

While many politicians routinely drive cars worth several crore taka, the combined value of the two vehicles owned by Khaleda Zia amounted to just Tk35 lakh.

Despite serving three terms as prime minister, Khaleda Zia owned no vacation home or vast tracts of land. Although politically influential figures often obtain plots from Rajuk, she did not take any such plot. Many people manage to secure Rajuk plots and build vacation homes after becoming MPs just once. Khaleda Zia, however, did not take any such benefits from the state during her three terms as prime minister.

From a housewife to a national leader, Khaleda Zia departed owning only 8 decimal of a non-agricultural plot acquired at Tk3,300 and another piece of non-agricultural plot acquired at Tk9,000.

On 29 December, Khaleda Zia submitted nomination papers from her hospital bed to contest three seats — Feni, Bogura and Dinajpur — in the upcoming parliamentary election. Through this, she made public an account of her assets before her death. But the very next morning, she passed away, leaving the nation in mourning. 

Today (31 December), shortly after her funeral prayers and burial were completed in the presence of millions of people, the Election Commission published the affidavits of all candidates who submitted nomination papers for the upcoming election. Khaleda Zia's affidavit, submitted along with her nomination papers, was among them.

An analysis of the affidavit shows that the total value of Khaleda Zia's movable and immovable assets stood at just Tk22,90,80,000. This figure also includes the value of her personal vehicles, household furniture and electronic goods. By comparison, many local-level leaders of various political parties possess assets worth several times more.

Her annual income from house rent, bank deposits and investments in savings certificates amounted to Tk1.17 crore, which translates to an average monthly income of Tk14.68 lakh. She had no other sources of income.

According to the affidavit, Khaleda Zia had only two sources of income: rent from houses, apartments or other immovable property, and returns from shares, bonds, savings certificates and bank deposits. Her annual income from property rent was Tk90 lakh, while income from shares, bonds, savings certificates and bank deposits amounted to Tk86,16,580.

As per the latest income tax year, Khaleda Zia had only Tk7,41,075 in cash and Tk13,93,75,356 deposited in banks. In contrast, Bangladesh Bank and the Anti-Corruption Commission have found evidence of thousands of crore taka being siphoned abroad by many ministers and MPs of the previous Awami League government.

Her investments in fixed deposits and savings certificates across various banks totalled Tk7,85,14,229, from which she earned an average monthly income of Tk7,18,048. The affidavit also states that Khaleda Zia held no foreign currency.

The three-time prime minister owned only two personal vehicles. One was a Nissan SUV valued at Tk22,25,000, and the other a Toyota SUV valued at Tk13,20,000. By comparison, even some ward councillors in Dhaka use vehicles worth several crore taka.

In addition, her household contained various electronic items worth Tk5 lakh and furniture worth Tk2,60,000.

Khaleda Zia's affidavit still listed the cantonment house from which she was evicted during the Awami League government's tenure. During the Ershad regime, Khaleda Zia had been given this house on Mainul Road in the cantonment at a nominal price, along with a house in Gulshan.

According to the affidavit, Khaleda Zia owned one-third of the house at 196 Gulshan Avenue, with an acquisition cost of Tk100.

The affidavit also states: "A house in the cantonment, which is currently neither owned nor occupied, acquisition cost Tk5."

However, the affidavit notes that the current market value of these immovable properties is approximately Tk50 crore.