Money received from Jamaat’s well-wishers, supporters and wealthy benefactors is ending up in the pockets of salaried party leaders. It’s believed that a large amount of money is being spent for the upkeep of central committee leaders.
This has stirred anger among supporters, activists and followers, who feel that spending party funds for leaders will create factionalism within Jamaat. In 2015, when the police arrested five leading Jamaat officials, they took away all the money deposited in the party’s fund.
Jamaat’s main sources of income are: 1. monthly stipend received from benefactors, 2. One-time donation, 3. Money received as Zakaat, 4. Income from sister bodies, 5. Income from publications, Adhunik, Daily Songram. 6. Funds from district leaders and donations from overseas.
It’s believed, a large amount comes from Turkey, USA and the middle-east.
Opposing the monthly Tk. 3 crore donation, Jamaat’s central committee member, advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, told Bangla Tribune: “the amount of Tk. 3 crore is not accurate; we don’t have big industrialists supporting us.’
While another Jamaat leader from Sylhet, said: “it’s normal for the party to get Tk. 3 crore every month.”
Another supporter said: “the cost behind party members is low in Jamaat and only office staff are given regular pay; around the country, there are 8-10 lakh supporters who try to help and therefore, a monthly income of Tk. 5-6 crore is not unusual.”
One leader says: “many Jamaat leaders like barrister Abdur Razzak and lawyers do not take a penny form the party.”
Only a few full-timers are paid for their sustenance, but they are few in number, said a Jamaat leader from Cumilla.
In the 80s, the concept of full-timers was open and there was a separate fund for their upkeep. But faced with party criticism, their number was drastically slashed.