Nahid Islam alleges 'deliberate misinformation' over income, asset disclosures

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has alleged that confusion and deliberate misinformation are being spread over the income and asset information disclosed in his election affidavit, calling it a politically motivated attempt to cast doubt on a "transparent politician".

In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page today (7 January), Nahid said the campaign was aimed not at uncovering facts, but at placing an honest political figure "in the dock of suspicion", while many politicians who live lavish lives at home and abroad face little scrutiny despite discrepancies in their affidavits.

Clarifying the issue of his declared annual income, Nahid said the Tk16 lakh mentioned in the affidavit represents his total income for the 2024–25 fiscal year, not a sudden earning after leaving a job.

He explained that for a significant portion of the fiscal year, around seven months, he served as an adviser to the interim government and received state-fixed salary and allowances for that role.

Of the Tk16 lakh, approximately Tk11 lakh came from his adviser's salary and benefits, all paid through banking channels, taxable and fully documented. The remaining amount was earned after his resignation as an adviser, from lawful professional work as a consultant at a private firm, which is also fully accounted for in his tax records, the statement said.

Regarding assets, Nahid clarified that his total declared wealth stands at Tk32 lakh, stressing that total assets are not equivalent to a single year's income but rather the accumulation of savings over an individual's lifetime. In his case, he said, this reflects savings accumulated over nearly 27 years of life.

These assets include savings from his adviser's salary, previous savings, gifts received at family and social events, the value of gold ornaments, furniture and electronic items, as well as post-resignation, tax-paid income. "Only accurate and truthful information has been provided in the affidavit," the statement reads.

The NCP leader also addressed what he termed "misuse of information" surrounding his bank accounts.

He said that at the time of resigning from the adviser post, his bank balance was around Tk10,000, which represented the remaining cash from his earnings during his tenure, not his total assets.

"Subsequently, government-allocated funds for the purchase of ministers' furniture were deposited into the same account, increasing the balance, an issue that has been clearly mentioned in the affidavit," he added.

Currently, he maintains only two bank accounts, one with Sonali Bank and another opened at City Bank on 28 December specifically for election expenses.

He said he has no other bank accounts. He also reiterated that he did not own any land, flat or vehicle during his time as an adviser, nor has he acquired any since resigning, facts that are clearly stated in his affidavit.

Addressing confusion over his profession, Nahid said his affidavit does not list teaching as his occupation.

His previous profession was interim government adviser, and his current profession is consultancy, which he described as a recognised and lawful occupation.

He said he provides strategic and policy advice to a technology firm, the name of which is mentioned in documents submitted to the Election Commission.

The firm is not associated with any government projects, and it has never received government benefits due to his involvement, he said, adding that his role is based on his political and administrative experience and involves nothing unusual or secretive.

Nahid emphasised that all information regarding his income and assets is legally verifiable through income tax returns and his election affidavit.

He said his income during his time as an adviser, his post-resignation professional income, and his overall assets have all been declared separately and transparently.

He alleged that these clearly defined categories are being deliberately conflated to create a "dishonest political narrative".

In reality, he said, his limited assets and transparent income declarations demonstrate that he has remained outside politics of power abuse or illegal wealth accumulation -- an integrity that, he suggested, is the source of discomfort behind the misinformation campaign.