Transparency Concerns Over BNP Candidate’s Tk 21 Crore Asset Declaration in Faridpur-1

The nomination filing for Khandaker Nasirul Islam, the BNP candidate (and Nationalist Farmers' Party Vice-President) for the Faridpur-1 constituency, has come under intense scrutiny due to significant inconsistencies between his sworn affidavit and tax records.

Financial Discrepancies & Asset Valuation

The primary issue involves a massive gap between the "acquisition value" and "estimated value" of the candidate's assets, alongside missing details: Immovable Assets: The acquisition value is listed at Tk 1.85 crore, but the estimated total value is cited as Tk 20.50 crore. Critics note a lack of transparency regarding a 2,420 sq. ft. flat, for which neither the location nor the specific value was provided.

Movable Assets: Estimated at Tk 36 lakh, though acquisition costs were listed at Tk 50.7 lakh. This includes Tk 7.80 lakh in cash, Tk 20.6 lakh in bank deposits, 18 bhori of gifted gold, and a .22 bore rifle valued at Tk 12.7 lakh.

Income vs. Tax: His annual income is stated as Tk 8.65 lakh (primarily from agriculture), with Tk 45,500 paid in taxes. However, his 2025-26 tax return lists total assets at only Tk 44.44 lakh, contradicting the crores mentioned in the election affidavit.

Liabilities and Omissions

The candidate reported significant liabilities, including a joint loan of Tk 7.55 crore and total liabilities of approximately Tk 16.97 crore. However, a formal complaint filed by a local citizen, Siddique Sheikh, alleges that the candidate’s tax documents only show Tk 5 lakh in bank liabilities and fail to mention the firearm listed in the affidavit.

Administrative Response & Defense

The Candidate: Nasirul Islam has deferred responsibility to his legal counsel, stating that his lawyer prepared the documents and included all necessary information.

The Returning Officer: Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Md. Kamrul Hasan Mollah confirmed receipt of the complaints. He stated that the authorities will follow legal protocols, noting that while minor clerical errors (such as a misspelling of the candidate's name on tax forms) can be corrected during hearings, more serious discrepancies will be dealt with according to election law.