Former Bangla MP's wealth statement comprises his daily wear

Dhaka, May 21 (UNI) As the military-backed Caretaker Government in Bangladesh cracks down on corruption, particularly by politicians, a former member of parliament today submitted his wealth of statement detailing values of his napkins, shoes,vests, socks and underwear.

Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League (Bangladesh Peasant Worker People's League) president and former MP Kader Siddiqui submitted the statement to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The bits and pieces of his own and his family members' personal use were juxtaposed with the significant wealth like land, jeeps, trucks, speedboats and guns.

Siddiqui, a renowned freedom fighter of Bangladesh's liberation war in 1971, is well known for his maverick manners. He chose gamchha (napkin) as his election symbol and used to attend parliament with it, wrapped around his neck. He gave the account of his wealth at the dictate of the ACC as part of the current crusade against corruption at high places.

He specified the quantity and worth of his shoes, sandals, socks, vests, underwear, napkins, lungis, hairdryers, make-up kits and selwar-kamij possessed by him, his wife, son and two daughters.

According to the account, Siddiqui does possess two pairs of shoes costing 2000 Taka, four pairs of sandals at 3000 Taka, three pairs of socks at 300 Taka, six vests and six pieces of underwear valued 1000 Taka, five napkins costing 250 Taka and 4 lungis at 600 Taka.

Among the trivial possessions, he also mentioned 10 sets of selwar-kameej of his daughters.

The Caretaker Government of Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, a central banker and former bureaucrat with the World Bank, who assumed office on January 12, launched the campaign against corruption of politicians in a bid to clean politics before holding the general elections before the end of 2008.

Scores of former ministers and MPs were already rounded up for their alleged corruption while they were in power and facing cases in special courts in Bangladesh. The arrestees include immediate past Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's eldest son Tarique Rahman who is facing extortion case.

UNI