Campaign in Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) election will start in full swing after distribution of symbols on Monday with remaining 21 days for voting.
Information about the election expenditure and affidavit of the mayoral candidates have become the center of discussion and criticism in the city.
Awami League candidate AHM Khairuzzaman Liton will bear the election expenditure from his own income in the RCC election scheduled for 30 July.
BNP candidate Mohammad Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul will take loan for RCC election campaign, according to the information in nomination papers.
However, one of his family members and the outsider has been mentioned the rest of the money has been shown from the expense of self-income.
In 2008 RCC election, Awami League mayor candidate and Rajshahi city president AHM Khairuzzaman Liton had an annual income of Tk 2.24 lakhs. He showed potential election expenditure of Tk 5 lakh 75 thousand. In 2013, he showed possible expense of 15 lakh.
He spent total 15 lakh, of his own 3 lakh and 12 lakh from the city's Awami League treasurer Shamsuzzaman.
Now Liton has deposited in the financial institutions Tk 1,38,53,408 in his own name, Tk 57 lakh 33 thousand in his wife's name and dependents have deposited 23 lakh 29 thousand in the bank.
Liton has invested 34 lakh 50 thousand in wife’s name, and his daughters invested Tk 20 lakh.
Now Liton's possible election expenditure is Tk 15 lakh 70 thousand.
His expenditure will be as followings: the workers will spend Tk 1.88 lakhs, Tk 20 thousand in the election camp, Tk 18 thousand in the central camp, Tk 2 lakh 79 thousand for poster, Tk 60 thousand in the indoor meeting, Tk 80 thousand for leaflet, Tk 3 lakh for handloom banner, Tk 1 lakh 60 thousand in the digital banner, 14 thousand in 10 beds, Tk 1 lakh 45 thousand in miking, Tk 100 thousand for the symbol and Tk 36 thousand in the reception and Tk 48 thousand will be spent on travel.
BNP City President Mohammad Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul will spend equal amount of Liton as election expenditure. He also will spend Tk 15 lakh 70 thousand. It will come from own fund of Tk 5 lakh 70 thousand. Besides, Tk 5 lakhs will be given by wife's brother Bazlur Rahman and Tk 5 lakh by Jafar Imam.
Bulbul potential cost is estimated to be – Tk 1.35 lakh for poster, Tk 1 lakh 20 thousand for election camp, Tk 60 thousand for central camp, 70 thousand for travelling, Tk 5 thousand for symbol, Tk 24 thousand for office attendance, Tk 15 thousand for 30 meetings, Tk 64 thousand for miking, Tk 2 lakh 75 thousand for leaflets, Tk 1 lakh 80 thousand for handbills, Tk 1 lakh 22 thousand for banners and Tk 2 lakh 55 thousand for digital banners.
Bulbul's annual income is Tk 24 lakh 57 thousand.
Meanwhile, RCC's another mayor candidate Islami Movement Bangladesh's leader Shafiqul Islam's election expenditure has been estimated to be Tk 2 lakh. Of this, own expense is Tk 30 thousand. Tk 60 thousand from the people and acquaintances and Tk 80 thousand will come from the donations of volunteers.
Besides, Bangladesh Jatiya Party candidate Habibur Rahman's annual income is Tk 2,20,000. However, Habibur's election will cost Tk 1.60 lakh.
Advocate Murad Morshed, District Convenor of Independent Candidate Ganasonghati Movement, mentioned his election expenditure of Tk 5 lakh 60 thousand.
