Bir Bahadur and his wife blessed by ‘Aladdin’s magic’ lamp

Sanjoy Kumar Barua

The couple’s fortune seems to be blessed by ‘Aladdin’s magic lamp’ that surprisingly multiplied their wealth and money over the last one-and-a-half decades.

They are Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing and his wife Mayhla Prue Marma. Over the last fifteen years, state minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Bahadur and his spouse net wealth grew 32 times to Tk 27.60 crore from only 84.89 lakh in 2008.

Bahadur’s wealth rose 26 times while his spouse and dependents recorded 104 times higher asset in the last one-and-a-half decades, according to the affidavits submitted by Bahadur, a lawmaker from Bandarban constituency.

The growth in the wealth of the couple is much higher than the growth of per capita income during this period. Per capita income grew around 5 times to US$ 2824 in 2021-22 fiscal years from $599 fifteen years ago, according to official data.

In Bangladeshi taka, the growth in per capita income is just seven and half times during this period.

This year, according to affidavit submitted by Bir Bahadur to the Election Commission, income of his dependents including his wife rose to Tk 55.32 lakh, 110 times higher from Tk 50,000.

Bahadur claimed a total of Tk 3.15 crore annual income by him which is 17 times higher from Tk 18.50 lakh fifteen years ago, according to his affidavit.

In 2008, though Bahadur had not shown any building but this time he has mentioned 13 buildings including a resort worth Tk 10.54 crore while two apartments worth Tk 1.16 crore has been shown in the name of his wife.

In this affidavit, he has shown non-agricultural land worth Tk 82 lakh including CDA plot in Chittagong city and agricultural land worth Tk 32.70 lakh.

Bahadur has a rubber garden of 10 acres while his wife has 50 acres of rubber garden as lease also mentioned in the affidavit.

Apart from his wealth and income, the amount of his bank loan also increased over the fifteen years. His borrowing from banks also increased overtime.

Bir Bahadur joined the Awami League from Jatiya Party and was elected six times since 1991 and is still an MP.

After repeated attempts Bir Bahadur didn’t receive the call.