In a political landscape often dominated by wealth and property, Bobby Hajjaj, son of one of Bangladesh’s richest men, presents a curious paradox.
While his father, Musa Bin Shamsher, is estimated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to be worth around one lakh crore taka, Bobby’s own declared assets are surprisingly modest.
On Monday, the final day for submitting nomination papers for the upcoming national elections, Bobby filed his documents for the Dhaka-13 constituency at the Election Training Institute (ETI) building in Agargaon.
Along with the papers, he submitted a detailed affidavit, revealing a financial profile that stands in stark contrast to his millionaire lineage.
According to the affidavit, Bobby Hajjaj has Tk 1.56 crore in cash and 35 bhori of gold in his name.
By contrast, his wife owns 120 bhori of gold, a sizeable asset that clearly surpasses his own holdings. Bobby declared annual earnings of Tk 27.55 lakh from his professional work and nearly Tk 90,000 from shares.
He also has a joint business generating Tk 6.9 lakh annually. Bank balances, too, remain modest by comparison: Bobby has Tk 4.65 lakh, while his wife holds Tk 14.5 lakh.
Remarkably, Bobby Hajjaj does not own a single piece of real estate – not a house, apartment, or agricultural land.
Nor does he hold savings certificates, fixed deposits, or other investments commonly associated with political figures in Bangladesh. The only vehicle in his possession is a car, whose value he did not disclose.
The affidavit also includes personal details, listing his parents – Musa Bin Shamsher and Taniz Fatema Chowdhury – and his home address in Gulshan.
The timing of the disclosure, ahead of the 13th parliamentary elections, adds a political dimension to the narrative.
As a BNP-nominated candidate and chairman of the Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM), Bobby Hajjaj’s modest asset declaration has drawn attention from both voters and political analysts.
In a country where personal wealth is often closely tied to political clout, his affidavit presents a striking deviation from the norm.
Political observers suggest the contrast between Bobby’s personal wealth and his father’s fortune raises interesting questions about inheritance, personal finance, and transparency in public life.
“It is rare to see a politician from such a wealthy family with so few declared assets in their own name,” said one political analyst. “It could be a deliberate choice, a reflection of his personal financial independence, or simply an artifact of asset management within the family.”
For many voters, the affidavit humanises a familiar political figure. Bobby Hajjaj, long known in Dhaka’s political circles, now stands in the public eye not for the wealth of his family but for the surprisingly restrained nature of his own assets – a revelation that may influence perceptions as campaigns intensify ahead of the elections.
As the political calendar moves forward, Bobby Hajjaj’s nomination and asset disclosure may set a precedent for transparency, while also offering a rare glimpse into the interplay of wealth, family legacy, and politics in Bangladesh.