BNP’s Aslam Chowdhury declares Tk345 crore debt; is guarantor for over Tk1,000 crore loans

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate Aslam Chowdhury has disclosed bank loans amounting to Tk345.51 crore, along with his role as a guarantor for loans exceeding Tk1,000 crore, according to his election affidavit.

He also declared total assets worth Tk456.95 crore, according to the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission (EC) ahead of the 13th parliamentary election. Information published on the EC website shows that Chowdhury is contesting from Chattogram-4 constituency.

According to the affidavit, Chowdhury's total assets include immovable properties valued at Tk430.78 crore and movable assets worth Tk26.16 crore. He submitted his nomination papers along with the affidavit to the returning officer at the Chattogram Divisional Commissioner's Office on Monday (29 December).

Aslam Chowdhury holds an MCom degree and is a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA). He is professionally engaged in business. His declared monthly income stands at Tk4.03 lakh.

He reported having Tk11.35 crore in cash, while the amount deposited in bank accounts is less than Tk1.25 lakh. His investments in bonds, debentures and shares of both listed and non-listed companies amount to Tk9.99 crore. He owns vehicles worth Tk37 lakh, gold jewelry valued at Tk3.58 lakh, furniture worth Tk50,000, and a firearm valued at Tk2.5 lakh. The value of his residential building located in Bhatiari has been shown as Tk1.8 crore.

Chowdhury has loans of Tk345.51 crore from five banks, which have been identified as defaulted and are currently under writ petitions in higher courts. In addition, he is listed as a guarantor for Tk1,059.04 crore in loans taken under the name of Rising Steel. He also disclosed liabilities of Tk285 crore in loans taken in his name as a director of various companies. His total debt thus amounts to nearly 24 times his declared assets.

His wife, Jamila Nazneen Maula, has an annual income of Tk6.13 lakh. Her movable assets are valued at Tk12.32 crore and immovable assets at Tk6.10 crore. Their daughter, Meherin Anhar Uzma, has an annual income of Tk9.08 lakh and movable assets worth Tk4.66 crore.

A total of 132 cases have been filed against Chowdhury under political and other laws. Of these, six cases are in Sitakunda, five in the Chattogram metropolitan area, 67 cases under the Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act in Chattogram and Dhaka, and two political cases in Dhaka. While 80 cases are still pending, 52 cases were disposed of through acquittals after 5 August.

As per his income tax return for the 2025–26 fiscal year, Chowdhury's business assets amount to Tk361.72 crore, while land and other assets are valued at Tk3.32 crore. The same return shows his annual income at Tk48.42 lakh, against which he paid Tk12.21 lakh in income tax.