Affidavit: BNP candidate Jasim’s income and assets double within a year

The candidate’s car is valued at Tk 3.6 million while his wife’s at Tk 4 million

The assets of Jasim Uddin Ahmed, a "much-discussed" candidate for the general elections in Chattogram, have nearly doubled in the span of a single year.

A review of the affidavit submitted for the parliamentary election compared with his 2024 filing -- when he successfully ran for the chairman post of the Chandanaish Upazila Parishad -- reveals a significant surge in his financial standing.

In his Upazila election affidavit for the 2023–24 tax year, Jasim reported an annual income of Tk 10.88 million. According to those records, the BNP candidate held assets worth Tk 213.02 million and paid Tk 3.25 million in tax.

However, in his latest affidavit for the Chattogram-14 constituency in 2025–26 tax year, his annual income has risen to Tk 24.25 million. He now claims total movable and immovable assets worth Tk 405.82 million, with a tax payment of Tk 10.13 million.

Jasim faced criticism due to his alleged "close ties" with former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed, a senior Awami League figure.

During the Students Against Discrimination protests, he was named as a defendant in several cases across Dhaka and Chattogram. He was previously arrested in connection with a case at Dhaka’s Badda Police Station.

Following a series of internal developments, the BNP nominated the former Upazila chairman for this seat at the last minute on Dec 28. The move sparked an internal rift, particularly after photos of Jasim with ministers and leaders of the ousted Awami League government circulated on social media.

The constituency comprises Chandanaish Upazila and several unions of Satkania.

In the affidavit submitted with his nomination papers, businessman Jasim filed an annual income of Tk 120,000 from agriculture, Tk 12.06 million from rent from residential and commercial properties, and capital income of Tk 12.06 million.

He also noted that he has capital worth Tk 1.3 million abroad.

Earlier, in the affidavit submitted in April 2024, Jasim filed an annual income of Tk 10 million from rent from residential and commercial spaces. At that time, he also declared an income of Tk 6.31 million from overseas investments.

In the affidavit for the parliamentary election, Jasim said he has cash in hand amounting to Tk 150.16 million. His wife, Tanzina Sultana Juhi, has cash of Tk 1.46 million.

He, however, said neither of them has any deposits in bank accounts.

Jasim filed income of Tk 1.40 million from shares, bonds and debentures, while his wife reported Tk 1.10 million from the same sources.

He has insurance policies worth Tk 3.61 million, while his wife has none.

The value of his own car is Tk 3.61 million, and his wife’s car is valued at Tk 4 million.