The Sylhet district and metropolitan units of the BNP have alleged that Maulana Habibur Rahman, a Jamaat-e-Islami leader and the party’s nominated candidate for the Sylhet-1 constituency, failed to disclose important information regarding company shares and loans in his election affidavit. They accused him of deceiving the public and engaging in political hypocrisy.
The allegations were made at a press conference held on Sunday afternoon (8 February) at the main election office of BNP-nominated candidate for Sylhet-1 and advisor to the BNP chairperson, Khandaker Abdul Mukhtadir.
In a written statement at the press conference, Rezawul Hasan Qayes Lodi, chief election agent of BNP candidate Khandaker Abdul Mukhtadir, said that crucial information regarding company shares and outstanding loans was omitted from Maulana Habibur Rahman’s affidavit. He described this as an act of deception against the people and a clear example of political duplicity.
The BNP leader further alleged that during the election campaign, fabricated and misleading information is being spread against rival candidates, diverting public attention from the country’s real and pressing issues. He said,
“The opposing side speaks of morality every day, yet fails to fulfill even the minimum responsibility of providing transparent information in their own affidavit.”
According to the BNP, records from the RJSC (Registrar of Joint Stock Companies) Form-12 show that Habibur Rahman is a director of Ibn Sina Hospital Sylhet Limited and a shareholder of Al-Karama Medical Services Limited. However, these details were not mentioned in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission. In addition, Schedule-10 reports indicate that Ibn Sina Hospital has defaulted loans amounting to BDT 240 crore, which were also not disclosed in the affidavit.
He also stated that, according to banking sources, Habibur Rahman has large outstanding loans with Shahjalal Islami Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, and Islami Bank’s Sylhet branch, none of which have been publicly disclosed. BNP described these allegations as verifiable and called on the Election Commission and the concerned bank authorities to take appropriate action.
Addressing the gathering, he said,
“We have struggled alongside Jamaat-e-Islami for many years, taken part in movements, and endured imprisonment and repression together. At this crucial moment of restoring democracy, wasting time on personal attacks is not appropriate. The public must focus on real national issues such as employment, price hikes, personal security, education, and healthcare.”
He added,
“In the post-5 August political reality, people across the country are dreaming of new hope in politics. At such a time, the rival candidate is spreading false information and engaging in character assassination. This type of campaigning is harmful to modern, inclusive politics.”
At the meeting, he also called for ensuring a free, peaceful, and competitive electoral environment. He said,
“This is the time to establish democracy, not to engage in hostility. Ultimately, it is the people who will decide which candidate can truly represent their hopes and trust.”
