Published : 03 Jan 2026, 04:36 PM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 02:58 PM
The declared income and assets of Rumeen Farhana, who is eyeing an independent bid for the Brahmanbaria-2 seat after her recent expulsion from the BNP, have changed markedly over the past six years.
A comparison of election affidavits submitted in 2019 and those filed in 2025 ahead of the 13th parliamentary polls shows that her annual income increased more than 22-fold, alongside a significant expansion in her declared immovable assets.
In her 2019 affidavit, Rumeen described herself as a Supreme Court lawyer and reported an annual income of Tk 434,100, most of it from legal practice. A smaller portion -- Tk 34,100 -- came from bank deposits.
In her latest filing, her declared annual income rose to just over Tk 9.7 million.
MAJOR CHANGES IN IMMOVABLE ASSETS
In 2019, Rumeen listed only one flat as immovable property, which she said she had received from her mother.
On Aug 3, 2019, about two months after being sworn in as a member of parliament for a reserved women’s seat in the 11th parliament, she applied to the then government seeking allocation of 10 kathas of land.
In the application, submitted on official parliamentary letterhead, she said that she did not own any flat, land or residential property in her own name in Dhaka.
However, an affidavit submitted six years later shows that she now owns multiple flats and parcels of land in some of the capital’s more affluent areas.
According to the affidavit, in addition to the flat received from her mother, she owns five kathas of land on Laboratory Road in Dhanmondi, five flats in the same area, and a commercial space measuring about 1,259 square feet in Paltan in Old Dhaka, valued at Tk 6.5 million.
Most of the properties are listed as inherited, and no purchase values have been declared.
CASH HOLDINGS SPIRAL OVER 3-FOLD
In 2019, she held Tk 985,422 in cash.
In the 2025 affidavit, that figure has risen to Tk 3.2 million. Of this, over Tk 3 million is deposited in banks and Tk 171,479 is held as cash on hand.
Both statements record her possession of 10 Bhori (116.6 grams) of gold jewellery, noted as gifts.
She, however, stated she has no bank deposits, shares, bonds, or other investments.
In 2019, three cases under the Digital Security Act were pending against her in the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrates’ Court. According to the latest affidavit, those previous cases, along with a new one, have been resolved in the same court.
ELECTION EXPENDITURE PLAN
According to the new affidavit, Rumeen plans to spend a total of Tk 2.5 million in the election. Of this, Tk 2 million will come from her own income (legal profession) and Tk 500,000 will be borrowed from her cousin, Galib Mehdi, an expatriate.
For the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency, comprising Sarail, Ashuganj, and a part of Bijoynagar Upazila, the BNP has conceded the seat to Maulana Junaid Al Habib, central committee vice president of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, an alliance partner.
Failing to secure a party nomination, Rumeen is contesting the seat as an independent candidate.
She was expelled from her post as assistant international affairs of the BNP’s Executive Committee on Dec 30.
A total of 12 candidates are vying in the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency. District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Sharmin Akter Jahan has declared the nomination papers of all candidates in this seat valid.
