A review of election affidavits submitted to Bangladesh’s Election Commission reveals a striking contrast between the modest declared incomes of senior political leaders and the scale of their accumulated assets.
Among the 10 most prominent leaders from five major political parties contesting the election, seven report monthly incomes below Tk 100,000. The lowest annual income has been declared by Jamaat-e-Islami amir Dr Shafiqur Rahman, while the highest earnings belong to Jatiya Party secretary general Barrister Shamim Haider Patwari. Despite income disparities, most leaders fall within the upper-middle-income bracket based on asset acquisition values, according to their own disclosures.
The affidavits—legally binding declarations—also show that eight of the 10 leaders own high-value vehicles and residential properties in Dhaka or district towns. Five list business as their primary profession, while others identify as lawyers, a physician, a consultant and a full-time politician. All but two have at least an undergraduate degree.
Low declared incomes at the top
Dr Shafiqur Rahman, Jamaat’s amir and candidate for Dhaka-15, has declared an annual income of Tk 360,000, the lowest among the group. He reports assets worth Tk 15 million, including agricultural land, a duplex house and over Tk 60 million in cash. An MBBS doctor by profession, he has been acquitted in all but two of 34 cases filed against him over the years.
Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader, contesting from Rangpur-3, has declared an annual income of Tk 400,000, despite holding assets valued at more than Tk 390 million jointly with his wife. He reports Tk 60 million in cash, while his wife owns a vehicle worth Tk 80 million. Their residential properties in Dhaka and Lalmonirhat are valued at over Tk 200 million.
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, a candidate in Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6, has declared an annual income of Tk 676,000, largely from shares, savings certificates and bank deposits. He reports Tk 315 million in cash, shares worth Tk 685 million, and modestly valued land holdings based on acquisition price. His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, holds significant cash savings and fixed deposits. Of the 77 cases filed against him, 54 have resulted in acquittal.
Assets outweigh earnings
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, contesting Thakurgaon-1, has declared assets worth Tk 406.5 million and an annual income of Tk 1.18 million. He owns agricultural and non-agricultural land, a flat in Dhaka, and a five-katha plot in Purbachal. While bank deposits amount to less than Tk 400,000, he reports holding over Tk 12 million in cash. Most of the roughly 50 cases filed against him have been withdrawn, stayed or disposed of.
At the higher end of the income scale is Jatiya Party secretary general Barrister Shamim Haider Patwari, who reports an annual income of Tk 3.3 million and assets worth Tk 482.2 million, making him the wealthiest among the group. A lawyer by profession, he also earns from agriculture, business, property rent and employment. He reports Tk 150 million in cash but also carries bank liabilities exceeding Tk 430 million.
New parties, rising profiles
NCP convener Nahid Islam, a consultant contesting Dhaka-11, has declared an annual income of Tk 1.6 million and assets worth Tk 32.1 million. He reports substantial cash holdings, gold ornaments owned by both himself and his wife, and has paid over Tk 113,000 in income tax in the last fiscal year.
NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain, contesting Rangpur-4, reports no car or house but holds Tk 13 million in cash. His annual income from agriculture, business and employment stands at Tk 505,000. Combined movable assets of him and his wife amount to Tk 43 million, including gold ornaments.
Growth over time
Islamic Andolon Bangladesh senior nayeb-e-ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, contesting Barishal-5, reports an annual income exceeding Tk 14 million, a sharp increase from Tk 165,000 declared in 2008. His income now comes from teaching, rental sources and religious donations. He holds Tk 31 million in cash, while his wife owns 190 bhori of gold, much of it listed as gifted.
Similarly, Yunus Ahmed, a businessman contesting Khulna-4, reports assets worth Tk 347 million, despite an annual business income of Tk 418,792. He holds over Tk 23 million in cash and paid Tk 5,000 in income tax in the last fiscal year.
Transparency under scrutiny
While the affidavits offer rare insight into the financial profiles of Bangladesh’s political elite, the sharp contrast between low declared incomes and substantial cash holdings is likely to raise renewed questions about wealth accumulation, valuation practices and the effectiveness of financial disclosure mechanisms.
Election Commission officials note that the figures reflect acquisition values rather than current market prices, which partly explains the disparity. Nonetheless, the data underscores the importance of rigorous scrutiny of political finance disclosures at a time when public trust in democratic institutions remains fragile.
As campaigning intensifies, these declarations are expected to remain under close public and media examination—not merely as financial records, but as indicators of accountability in political life