The air is thick with misinformation. Recently, a deliberate smear campaign has been launched regarding Nahid Islam’s income and assets as declared in his election affidavit. Rather than a pursuit of truth, these claims appear to be a calculated political attempt to cast doubt on a transparent leader.
To ensure clarity, here are the factual breakdowns addressing the primary points of confusion:
1. On Annual Income: Clearing the Numbers
The confusion regarding Nahid Islam’s annual income stems from a basic misunderstanding of the fiscal year. The 1.6 million BDT (16 Lakh) figure mentioned in the affidavit is not a sudden windfall; it represents his total income for the 2024–2025 fiscal year (July 1st to June 30th).
- Advisor Salary: For seven months of this period, Nahid Islam served as an Advisor to the Interim Government. Approximately 1.1 million BDT of the total income consists of the official salary and allowances provided by the state. This was paid through bank channels, is fully documented, and is subject to income tax.
- Professional Consultancy: The remaining portion comes from his work as a consultant for a private firm—a role he took up after resigning from his advisory position. These earnings are legitimate professional fees and are fully accounted for in his tax filings.
2. Total Assets: A Lifetime of Savings
The affidavit declares total assets worth 3.2 million BDT (32 Lakh). It is important to remember that "total assets" are not a single year's income; they are the sum total of a person’s savings over their lifetime.
For Nahid Islam, this amount represents the accumulation of nearly 27 years of life. It includes:
- Savings from his salary as an Advisor.
- Prior personal savings and gifts received at family or social events.
- The value of gold, furniture, and electronic items.
- Post-resignation professional income (after taxes). The figure provided is an honest and accurate reflection of his current financial standing.
3. Bank Accounts: Facts over Fiction
The narrative surrounding his bank balance is a classic case of cherry-picking data.
- When he resigned from his advisory role, his account balance was roughly 10,000 BDT—this was simply the remaining cash from his monthly earnings, not a reflection of his entire net worth.
- Later, the balance increased when the government-allocated funds for a minister's furniture allowance were deposited into the same account, a detail clearly mentioned in the affidavit.
- Current Status: He maintains only two bank accounts—one with Sonali Bank and another opened on December 28 at City Bank specifically for election expenses.
Furthermore, the affidavit confirms that he owned no land, flats, or cars during his tenure, and that remains the case today.
4. Profession: Transparency in Career
Some have intentionally mislabeled his profession. Nahid Islam’s affidavit does not list him as a teacher. Instead, it clearly states his previous role as a Government Advisor and his current role as a Consultant.
He provides strategic and policy advice to a tech firm (the name of which is included in the documents submitted to the Election Commission). This firm has no involvement in government projects and has received no state benefits due to his association. His role is based entirely on his political and administrative expertise.
The Bottom Line
Every Taka declared by Nahid Islam—whether from his time as an Advisor or his private professional life—is legally verifiable through tax returns and official records.
The unfortunate reality in our political landscape is that transparency is often met with suspicion. While politicians with unexplained luxury lifestyles often escape scrutiny, those who provide honest, modest disclosures are targeted.
Nahid Islam’s limited assets are proof that he served without abusing power or accumulating illegal wealth. This transparency is exactly what seems to be making his detractors uncomfortable.