Ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, a total of 107 candidates submitted nomination papers for 11 constituencies in Comilla. After scrutiny, the district returning officer canceled 31 nominations, and three were later reinstated on appeal, leaving 79 candidates in the race as of Saturday. Analysis of their affidavits shows that at least 20 candidates are millionaires, with BNP nominees dominating the list.

All 11 BNP candidates in Comilla are millionaires, collectively declaring assets worth about Tk 432 crore. The wealthiest among them is Zakaria Taher Suman, BNP’s candidate for Comilla-8 and president of the party’s southern district unit, with assets totaling Tk 231 crore. Jamaat-e-Islami has six millionaire candidates whose combined assets amount to Tk 16.86 crore. Several BNP rebel and NCP candidates also appear on the millionaire list.

Affidavits further reveal that many candidates’ spouses hold significant wealth. Zakaria Taher Suman’s wife owns assets worth Tk 128 crore, while spouses of other BNP and Jamaat candidates also report holdings ranging from several lakh to multiple crore taka.