Noakhali BNP’s six candidates: five businesspeople, all millionaires

In the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Elections, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has nominated six candidates for Noakhali’s constituencies, five of whom are professional businesspeople. An analysis of the candidates’ official affidavits reveals that all six nominees are millionaires, with substantial declared assets.

Among them, Mohammad Fakhrul Islam, contesting from Noakhali-5 (Companiganj and Kabirhat), is the wealthiest candidate, while Md. Mahbubur Rahman of Noakhali-6 (Hatia) has the least declared assets. Fakhrul Islam is also projected to spend the highest amount in campaigning, planning to invest BDT 5 million from his business income. Conversely, Barakat Ullah of Noakhali-3 (Begumganj) is expected to spend the least, BDT 1.5 million, from his business and agricultural income.

Except for A.M. Mahbub Uddin of Noakhali-1 (Chatkhil and part of Sonaimuri), who is a practising lawyer, all BNP candidates have declared their profession as business. Fakhrul Islam faces the highest number of legal cases—46—while Md. Mahbubur Rahman faces only three. Notably, Noakhali-4 candidate Md. Shahjahan, the BNP vice-chairman, has no cases against him.

Bangladesh’s electoral law mandates that candidates submit affidavits alongside nomination papers, detailing ten categories of information including profession, income sources, educational qualifications, legal cases, and assets of themselves and their dependents. This practice has been compulsory since the 2008 Ninth National Parliamentary Elections, aimed at providing voters transparent insight into candidates’ financial and professional backgrounds.

BNP Nominees’ Key Financial Data:

The BNP candidates’ declared wealth underscores the growing trend of affluent individuals contesting in the region. For voters, these affidavits provide critical insight, allowing informed electoral decisions based on candidates’ financial transparency, professional experience, and legal histories.