Dhaka, Feb 16 (NationPress) A notable 236 MPs that were recently elected in Bangladesh's 13th Parliamentary election are millionaires, as reported by local media on Monday, citing findings from the anti-corruption organization Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).

During a press conference held in Dhaka, TIB researcher Mohammad Touhidul Islam presented a report named 'Thirteenth National Parliament Election Process and Affidavit-Based Observation', which detailed the assets, liabilities, and professional backgrounds of the newly elected Members of Parliament.

The TIB study revealed that 236 MPs qualify as millionaires, which is about 79.46% of the total Members of Parliament, and includes 13 billionaires.

According to the data, among the lawmakers from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), 189 are millionaires, making up 90.87% of the party's newly elected members, while the Jamaat-e-Islami has 38 millionaires, accounting for 55.07% of its parliamentary representation, as reported by the leading Bengali daily Bonik Barta.

The count of millionaire MPs based on movable assets is 184, with their total declared movable assets reaching Taka (Tk) 9 crore.

In addition, 167 MPs are millionaires based on their immovable assets, each possessing at least three properties such as buildings, apartments, farms, or gardens.

Moreover, TIB also pointed out the financial struggles of Parliament members.

The study indicated that approximately 49.83% of the MPs are in debt, a slight decrease from 52% in the previous election in 2024.

On a party basis, 62.02% of the BNP members are reported to be in debt, while the Jamaat MPs' debt rate stands at 15.94%.

Reportedly, the total debt amassed by the newly elected MPs has surged to Tk 11,356 crore, the highest recorded in the last four parliamentary terms. Notably, all ten MPs with the largest debt burdens are newly elected representatives from the BNP.

The analysis also highlighted the income levels of MPs, revealing that 67.34% earn more than 1 million Taka per year, with 48 parliament members earning over 1 crore Taka.

The list of the top ten highest-earning MPs features nine from the BNP and one from Jamaat. The highest reported annual income belongs to Zakaria Taher, a BNP candidate from Comilla-8, with a staggering 59 crore 16 lakh Taka.

With Tarique Rahman poised to take the lead in Bangladesh after the BNP's decisive win in the 13th Parliamentary election, experts caution that the nation faces significant challenges in addressing the rampant corruption and instability that characterized the 18-monthMuhammad Yunus-led interim government.