Affidavits submitted ahead of the parliamentary election reveal striking gaps in wealth and income between political leaders and their spouses.
While several top leaders of BNP and Jatiya Party (JaPa) are married to millionaires, some, including Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer, report no assets in their wives’ names. In several cases, party chiefs hold fewer assets than their spouses, highlighting wide disparities even among the nation’s political elite.
Reviewing the declarations of 20 registered political party chiefs, TIMES of Bangladesh found that the wives of several top leaders of BNP and Jatiya Party are millionaires. In contrast, some leaders, including Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer, report no assets in their wives’ names. A few party heads even hold fewer assets than their spouses.
Meanwhile, religious-based parties generally show relatively modest wealth among leaders’ wives.
BNP chairman and candidate for Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6, Tarique Rahman, is married to Zubaida Rahman.
Though she has resided in London for years, Tarique’s affidavit does not mention any overseas income of his wife. Analysis shows Zubaida holds Tk 65.4 lakh in cash and bank deposits, plus a fixed deposit of Tk 35 lakh. She also co-owns property, including land and a house.
While Tarique owns gold worth only Tk 2,950, Zubaida has none. Income tax records show her annual income for FY2025-26 is Tk 35.6 lakh, which is Tk 28.8 lakh higher than her husband’s. Her total declared wealth stands at Tk 1.53 crore.
In contrast, Jamaat Ameer and Dhaka-15 candidate Shafiqur Rahman’s wife, Ameena Begum, is a housewife. Her affidavit shows no assets, cash, or gold. Shafiqul owns 10 bhori of gold worth Tk 1 lakh and his wife has no income tax record.
National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and Dhaka-11 candidate Md Nahid Islam’s wife, Fatimatuz Zohra, also a housewife, holds Tk 2 lakh in cash, gold worth Tk 10 lakh, and movable assets estimated at Tk 15 lakh, with a debt of Tk 3.5 lakh.
Jatiya Party (JaPa) chairman and Rangpur-3 candidate chairman Golam Mohammad Quader wife, Sharifa Quader, is both a singer and entrepreneur. She earns Tk 6 lakh from business and Tk 79,000 from savings and shares. She holds Tk 48.90 lakh in cash and also owns property and vehicles.
Affidavit information shows she holds movable assets worth Tk 1.72 crore and immovable assets worth Tk 70 lakh. Income tax records indicate that Sharifa Quader earns more than her husband.
Nagorik Oikko chairman and Bogura-2 & Dhaka-18 candidate Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s wife, homemaker Meher Nigar, holds Tk 27.30 lakh in cash and gold worth Tk 1.5 lakh. She also owns movable assets worth Tk 1.12 crore and immovable property worth Tk 2 crore, including a house. Income tax records show she earned Tk 10.53 lakh in FY2025-26, with total declared wealth of Tk 68.18 lakh.
The wife of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis Ameer and Dhaka-13 candidate Maulana Mamunul Haque, Amina Taiyeba, holds no assets or gold.
Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) chairman and Dhaka-13 BNP nominee Bobby Hajjaj’s wife Rashna Imam holds Tk 7.62 lakh in cash, 120 bhori of gold, a car, and movable assets of Tk 56.13 lakh. Income tax records indicate her total declared wealth exceeds Tk 74.36 lakh.
Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) chairman and Bhola-1 candidate Andaleeve Rahman Partha’s housewife wife Sheikh Shaira Sharmin has Tk 26,000 in cash and 60 bhori of gold. According to income tax records, her total assets amount to Tk 10.75 lakh. She did not file an income tax return in the last financial year.
Ganosamhati Andolan Chief Coordinator and Brahmanbaria-6 BNP-nominated candidate Zonayed Saki’s wife, Taslima Akhter, a photographer and teacher, holds flats, shops, and gold. Income tax records show she earns Tk 15.36 lakh more than her husband. Her total assets exceed Tk 1.23 crore, which is Tk 76.30 lakh more than Zonayed Saki’s wealth.
Bangladesh Revolutionary Workers Party general secretary and Dhaka-12 BNP nominee Saiful Haque’s wife, Bahni Shikha Jamali, editor and publisher of two newspapers, earns Tk 4.67 lakh from savings and Tk 3.20 lakh from other sources. She holds 70 bhori of gold, movable assets worth Tk 1.88 crore, and immovable property valued at Tk 80–90 lakh. Her assets are more than double her husband’s Tk 47.21 lakh.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer and Barishal-5 and 6 candidate Mufti Syed Fayzul Karim’s wife, Taslima Akter, declared as a housewife and entrepreneur, holds 187 bhori of gold and movable assets valued at Tk 3.42 crore.
Records show Fayzul Karim holds less movable property than his wife. Income tax filings indicate her total assets amount to Tk 32.60 lakh, with income of Tk 6 lakh.
Gono Odhikar Parishad president and Patuakhali-3 BNP nominee Nurul Haque Nur ’s wife, Maria Akhter, a teacher, holds Tk 30,000 in cash and immovable and movable assets worth Tk 10.66 lakh. She does not own gold, though her income last year was Tk 1.91 lakh.
Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) chairman and Feni-2 candidate Mujibur Rahman Bhuiyan Manju’s housewife wife Hoshnara Begum holds no cash or gold, although Manju owns 15 bhori of gold. Her affidavit shows company shares worth Tk 50,000 and Tk 2 lakh in a bank account.
Bangladesh Labour Party chairman and Dhaka-12 candidate Muhammad Mostafizur Rahman’s lawyer wife Zahura Khatun owns gold valued at Tk 72 lakh and movable assets estimated at Tk 79.42 lakh. Income tax filings show her declared assets at Tk 18.07 lakh, with income of Tk 4.59 lakh.
Bangladesh Minority Janata Party president and Jessore-4 candidate Sukriti Kumar Mondal’s housewife wife Nidra Bhowmik has no gold or assets. Sukriti Kumar declared 30 bhori of gold received as a marital gift.
Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon Ameer and Dhaka-7 candidate Md Habibullah Miazi’s wife Mutahhara is listed without occupation or assets. Habibullah holds 10 bhori of gold.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh president and Sylhet-5 candidate Maulana Ubaydullah Faruk’s housewife wife Maulana Ubaydullah Faruk is co-owner of household property but holds no gold or separate assets.
Bangladesh National Awami Party (Bangladesh NAP) chairman and Nilphamari-1 candidate Jebel Rahman Gani’s wife Farhana Shaheen Gani owns 31 bhori of gold and a vehicle. Tax returns show annual income of Tk 6.50 lakh and declared assets of Tk 2.44 crore.
Bangladesh Islami Front chairman and Chandpur-5 candidate Syed Bahadur Shah Mujaddedi’s housewife wife Syeda Nilufa Akter owns no gold but has immovable property worth Tk 6 lakh.
Bangladesh Development Party chairman and Mymensingh-9 candidate Akm Anwarul Islam Chan holds gold worth Tk 9.5 lakh. His businesswoman wife Nurun Nahar owns no gold but has movable assets worth Tk 22 lakh and immovable property worth Tk 80 lakh. She earned Tk 28.03 lakh in the last financial year, higher than her husband. Her total assets amount to Tk 88.09 lakh.
The declarations underline contrasting financial profiles across party lines, with religious-based parties generally reporting modest spousal wealth, and certain political families revealing substantial holdings. Income and assets vary widely, underscoring a complex economic landscape behind Bangladesh’s parliamentary contenders.
