Former Sylhet city BNP president and former city corporation mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury has reportedly doubled his declared wealth over the past seven years, while his wife, Sama Haque, has become a millionaire, according to affidavits submitted for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Ariful’s current annual income stands at Tk31.83 lakh, up from Tk7.58 lakh in 2018, marking more than a fourfold increase. His total assets, both movable and immovable, have also grown significantly during this period. Seven years ago, Sama Haque had no declared income, but she is now listed as a property millionaire.
Movable Assets
Ariful’s current movable assets are valued at Tk4.33 crore, with acquisition costs reported at Tk4.29 crore, compared to Tk1.94 crore in 2018. Over the past seven years, his assets have increased by more than Tk2 crore.
Ariful Haque Chowdhury and his wife Sama Haque Chowdhury’s sources of income include Tk1.08 lakh from agriculture; Tk3.73 lakh for Ariful and Tk14.96 lakh for Sama from residential, apartment, and commercial properties; Tk18.46 lakh for Ariful and Tk7.35 lakh for Sama from business; Tk4.60 lakh for Ariful and Tk2.39 lakh for Sama from shares; and Tk3.944 lakh from other sources for Ariful.
His movable assets include Tk23.78 lakh in cash, USD 5,918, GBP 6,831; bank deposits of Tk1.29 crore; bonds and shares worth Tk38.51 lakh; postal savings of Tk53.05 lakh; motor vehicles valued at Tk1.63 crore; 10 bhori gold, and electronics and furniture worth Tk3 lakh.
Sama Haque’s movable assets include Tk35.21 lakh in cash, Tk14.38 lakh in foreign currency, postal savings of Tk58 lakh; motor vehicles worth Tk12 lakh; 27 bhori gold, and furniture valued at Tk1.47 lakh.
Immovable Assets
Although Ariful Haque Chowdhury’s 2018 city corporation election affidavit listed immovable assets, their value was not specified in monetary terms. Seven years later, he has provided the valuation of these assets in his latest affidavit.
Ariful Haque Chowdhury’s immovable assets total Tk15.26 crore, with acquisition value of Tk6.86 crore, including agricultural land worth Tk20.15 lakh, residential and apartment properties worth Tk89.09 lakh, tea gardens and farms worth Tk1.28 crore, and other properties worth Tk4.16 crore.
His wife Sama Haque’s immovable assets are now Tk6.95 crore, up from zero in 2018, comprising non-agricultural land worth Tk15.12 lakh and residential/apartment properties valued at Tk5.60 crore.
The analysis of affidavits submitted to the returning officer for the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election, compared with 2018 city corporation election disclosures, highlights the sharp increase in declared wealth for both Ariful Haque Chowdhury and his wife.
This dramatic growth in assets has drawn public attention ahead of the upcoming polls, reflecting a notable change in the financial profile of the former mayor and his family over the past seven years.
