Pre-Election Surprise in Affidavits: Five Top Leaders Earn Under Tk 100,000 a Month

With the 13th National Parliamentary Election approaching and voting scheduled for 12 February, affidavits submitted with nomination papers have drawn public attention by revealing that the top five leaders of the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), and Jatiya Party earn less than one lakh taka per month.

According to the disclosures, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman tops the list of lowest earners. Although a medical doctor by profession, his income mainly comes from agriculture and donations. His annual income stands at Tk 360,000, amounting to just Tk 30,000 per month.

Jatiya Party Chairman G.M. Quader, whose livelihood is based on politics, reported an annual income of Tk 400,000—slightly over Tk 33,000 per month.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman earns comparatively more than the two leaders, with an annual income of Tk 676,000, or approximately Tk 56,000 per month.

Among parliamentary candidates, Akhtar Hossain of Rangpur-4 declared Tk 1.3 million in cash and an annual income of Tk 505,000 from agriculture and employment, translating to a monthly income of around Tk 42,000.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, contesting from Thakurgaon-1, reported an annual income of Tk 1,133,183, or nearly Tk 95,000 per month.

Dhaka-11 candidate Nahid Islam earns Tk 1.6 million annually as a consultant, amounting to more than Tk 133,000 per month.

Barishal-5 candidate Faizul Karim reported earning over Tk 1.4 million annually from business, teaching, and religious honorariums.

At the top of the income scale is Jatiya Party Secretary General Shamim Haider Patwary, who declared an annual income of Tk 3.3 million from legal practice, business, and other sources—around Tk 275,000 per month.

The Election Commission has taken a stricter stance on affidavit disclosures this time. If any information is proven false, candidates may face cancellation of their candidacy and financial penalties.

The deadline for submitting nomination papers was 29 December, while scrutiny concluded on 4 January. Appeals will be heard from 6 to 12 January, with disposal scheduled between 12 and 18 January. Candidates may withdraw until 20 January. The final list of candidates and symbol allocation will be published on 21 January. Election campaigning will run from 22 January until 7:00 am on 10 February.