British media sometimes accorded their zamindar status as 'Princes'. After the War of 1971, they held considerable alliances with ruling presidents, military dictators and prime ministers, all the while refraining from elected public offices. The family still owns most of the lands as private estates, and taxes the inhabitants on produce from the lands, which in turn pays for the upkeep of the land holdings, buildings, etc. Most of the residences used by the family lies mostly uninhabited, yet under the ownership of the family.