Sonai: Educational Qualification in Question, Aminul Haque Calls Karim Uddin’s MBA Forged in Election Affidavit

The controversy surrounding the educational qualifications of Sonai MLA Karim Uddin Barbhuiya, alias Saju, has escalated further, with Congress candidate Aminul Haque Laskar launching a sharp attack and raising serious allegations during a press interaction on Tuesday (March 24).

Laskar alleged that Barbhuiya has presented “three different educational qualifications in three consecutive Assembly elections starting with 2016,” calling it a “hat-trick of changing degrees.” He said, “Karim Uddin Barbhuiya has made another record today, and it’s a hat-trick now. In 2016, he had a diploma in engineering, in 2021, he was a BA pass from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, and now in 2026, an MBA from Kerala.”

Claiming that the MLA’s academic credentials have changed every five years, Laskar added, “Every five years, irrespective of whether he loses or wins, his degrees definitely change. This year, he has added an MBA degree from NIBM Global University (National Institute of Business Management), Trivandrum, Kerala.”

Questioning the intent behind such claims, he said, “It is surprising that even though there are no educational qualifications required for becoming an MLA, even a person who can’t give their signature can become an MLA, then why is he time and again allegedly forging his educational qualifications?” He further remarked, “He is not an MBA, he is ‘Munna Bhai MBA’. He is demeaning education.”

Laskar warned that such alleged actions could send a wrong message to the youth. “The new generation will build resistance to this. Young people will think, if our representative can get an engineering degree without studying or appearing for exams, then why should we study?” he said.

The Congress candidate also accused Barbhuiya of insulting sections of society. Referring to a recent remark, Laskar said, “He thinks of Sonai voters as uneducated and backward. At a press meet, he said that people with me are rickshaw pullers, cart pullers, and daily wage labourers. Does he not value them? I stand with poor people; they support me in return, and that is why he has a problem with me.”

Taking a swipe at Barbhuiya’s support base, he questioned, “If they are my supporters, who are your supporters then? The dalals whom you buy with money?” He also claimed strong public backing, stating, “Around 20,000 people accompanied me to file nomination. Did you only see thela walas and rickshaw walas?”

Laskar further alleged inaction by the sitting MLA over the past five years. “When a person is on the verge of losing an election, they speak rubbish. In the last five years, you did no work for the people, not even answering the distress calls of your voters,” he said.

Raising fresh questions over Barbhuiya’s academic history, Laskar claimed, “I have challenged his nomination. He is a Higher Secondary fail. In 2016, he claimed he passed HS from GC College in 1987. GC College said that he failed in all subjects. How can a Higher Secondary fail student pass BA and then MBA?”

He concluded by asserting that the alleged remarks against labourers could influence the election outcome. “You have demeaned rickshaw and cart pullers. These people will now decide the fate of this election,” Laskar added.

In his counter-affidavit filed on March 24, 2026, Aminul Haque Laskar has challenged the validity of Karim Uddin Barbhuiya’s nomination, alleging that the MBA degree claimed from NIBM Global University is “false and misleading” because the institute is not a UGC-recognised university and does not award valid degrees. He further claimed that the institute only provides training or certificate courses, not recognised MBA qualifications.

The affidavit also alleges suppression and inconsistency in educational disclosures, noting that Barbhuiya had earlier declared a BA degree in 2021, which was not mentioned in the current affidavit. Additionally, Laskar questioned Barbhuiya’s Higher Secondary credentials, stating that records from GC College do not support his claim of passing HS.

Apart from educational issues, the affidavit points out alleged discrepancies in asset declarations, incomplete information in Form 26, and non-disclosure of liabilities and other material facts. Citing Supreme Court rulings, Laskar argued that such omissions amount to a “defect of substantial character” and has sought rejection of the nomination.