Housewife’s Wealth Twice That of BNP Candidate Abul Khair

The financial declarations of BNP candidate Abul Khair Bhuiyan and his wife have sparked fresh public debate ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Elections. Contesting the Laxmipur-2 constituency—which covers Raipur and parts of Sadar Upazila—Abul Khair Bhuiyan submitted his affidavit detailing his assets alongside those of his spouse. The documents reveal a striking contrast: while Bhuiyan’s total movable and immovable assets amount to BDT 66.006 million, his wife, homemaker-turned-businesswoman Rowshan Ara Begum, possesses nearly double that wealth at BDT 137.316 million.

According to the affidavit, 65-year-old Abul Khair Bhuiyan is a seasoned politician, having been elected three times from Laxmipur-2. Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia had previously won this seat twice, and Bhuiyan secured victory in a subsequent by-election. Currently, he serves as an adviser to the BNP Chairperson.

The detailed asset breakdown (all figures in thousand BDT) is as follows:

Bhuiyan owns one firearm, while his vehicle is valued at BDT 63.256 million, offset by a BDT 13 million loan. Rent from his property, received by his two children—a son and a daughter—generates BDT 1.047 million annually.

Rowshan Ara Begum’s assets include agricultural land, a residential building valued at BDT 134.45 million, cash holdings of BDT 15.66 million, and bank deposits across three accounts totalling BDT 2.96 million. Her latest income tax return records an annual income of BDT 20.704 million, on which she paid BDT 0.172 million in taxes.

While Bhuiyan holds slightly more cash than his wife, the overall disparity in total wealth is significant. Analysts note that such a pronounced difference in asset accumulation is particularly noteworthy in the context of electoral economics, where financial transparency and resource distribution often influence voter perception.