At least 17 apparel factory owners and their family members have entered the race for the next national elections, according to affidavits submitted to the Election Commission (EC), underscoring the growing political footprint of business leaders from the country’s readymade garment and textile sectors.
Most of the candidates are affiliated with major trade bodies such as the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), while contesting mainly under the banner of the BNP, alongside a few independents.
Election analysts say the growing presence of apparel and textile entrepreneurs in electoral politics reflects both the sector’s economic weight and its increasing interest in influencing policy from within parliament.
Among them, Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of the BGMEA and managing director of Rising Fashions, is contesting the Chuadanga-2 (Damurhuda-Jibannagar) seat as a BNP-nominated candidate.
According to his affidavit, he owns movable and immovable assets worth Tk 991.3 million at acquisition value. His movable assets account for about Tk 870 million, while immovable assets stand at Tk 121 million. He reported an annual income of Tk 48.38 million and personal loans amounting to Tk 135.6 million, mainly linked to Rising Industries Limited and Active Composite Mills Limited.
Another heavyweight candidate, Abdul Awal Mintoo, BNP vice-chairman and former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), is contesting from Feni-3. His affidavit shows total assets worth Tk 5.08 billion, including Tk 3.33 billion in immovable properties. While he has no personal loans, loans amounting to Tk 2.94 billion are recorded in the names of companies associated with him. Mintoo’s annual domestic income stands at Tk 15.08 million, and his declared gold and jewellery holdings are valued at Tk 0.2 million.
Among female candidates from business families, Afroza Khanom, a BNP candidate from Manikganj-3, reported assets worth Tk 282.5 million, an annual income of Tk 15.6 million, and personal loans of Tk 202.8 million. She also declared ownership of 164 bhori of gold, valued at about Tk 0.31 million at acquisition cost.
Md Kamrul Huda, BNP candidate from Cumilla-11, declared assets worth Tk 100.7 million, an annual income of Tk 8.1 million, and minimal personal loans of Tk 0.12 million, along with 10 bhori of gold.
From Cumilla-9, Md Abul Kalam, vice-president of the BTMA and a BNP candidate, reported total assets of Tk 487 million, an annual income of Tk 5.7 million, no personal loans, and gold holdings valued at Tk 0.167 million.
Former BTMA vice-president SM Faysal, contesting from Habiganj-2 as a BNP candidate, declared assets worth Tk 319.39 million, an annual income of Tk 18.96 million, personal loans of Tk 17.71 million, and gold valued at Tk 0.42 million.
BGMEA member Zainul Abedin Farroque, BNP candidate from Noakhali-2, reported comparatively modest assets of Tk 11.62 million, an annual income of Tk 2.34 million, no personal loans, and ownership of 30 bhori of gold valued at Tk 5.21 million.
In Noakhali-6, independent candidate Shamima Azim declared assets worth Tk 100.5 million, an annual income of Tk 14.16 million, personal loans of Tk 0.5 million, and gold worth Tk 0.6 million.
Several other garment and textile entrepreneurs have also joined the race, though detailed financial disclosures were not available in all cases. These include Manjur Elahi (BTMA member, BNP candidate from Narsingdi-3), Jakaria Taher Sumon (BGMEA member, BNP candidate from Cumilla-8), Engr Khaled Hossain Mahboob (BGMEA member, BNP candidate from Brahmanbaria-3), Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah (BGMEA member, BNP candidate from Munshiganj-1), Shahadat Hossain Selim (LDP chairman, who recently joined the BNP and secured the party’s nomination from Laxmipur-1), and Ershad Ullah, former first vice-president of the BGMEA, contesting from Chattogram-8 as a BNP candidate.
Former BGMEA president Redwan Ahmed, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), who recently joined the BNP, is contesting from Cumilla-7. His affidavit shows assets worth Tk 88.18 million, an annual income of Tk 49.83 million, personal loans of Tk 46.23 million, and ownership of 29 bhori of gold.
