Ministers to submit wealth reports in a week: Muhith

All cabinet ministers and those holding the rank of ministers as well as mayors of city corporations will have to submit their wealth statements to the government, reports UNB. Stating this to reporters Wednesday Finance Minister AMA Muhith said his ministry will be sending letters next Sunday to the ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers, those holding the rank of ministers and city mayors asking them to submit wealth statement within a week. Talking to reporters at the parliament media centre this afternoon Muhith said the measure is aimed at redeeming to the electoral pledge of the ruling Awami League to curb corruption. He said the decision was taken at a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on economic affairs. The wealth statement to be submitted should conform to that of the income tax return for the assessment year, 2009-10, based on the tax file of the previous year. Besides, it will also have to conform to the statements that they submitted before the Election Commission. Asked about submission of wealth statements by MPs, Muhith said that he would talk to the Speaker about it as they are not part of the executive wing of the government. "The Speaker may take an initiative in this regard." About the judges, the Finance Minister said he would discuss with the Chief Justice about submission of wealth statements by them. Earlier in last September, the Finance Minister became the first minister to declare his wealth statement. Muhith was also the first minister to submit his income tax return on the website, after inaugurating the country's online tax return system last September.