Photo: Collected
The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) revealed on Monday (May 27) that 106 candidates in the third phase of the upazila elections are millionaires.
"Out of the 1,419 candidates contesting in 111 upazilas, 106 have declared assets exceeding one million taka in their affidavits," TIB announced during a press briefing in the capital after analyzing the candidates' affidavits.
Besides, 18 people who have close ties with ministers or MPs became candidates in the third phase of the upazila elections, despite warnings from the ruling Awami League.
This number was 17 in the second phase and 13 in the first phase, reports the TIB.
TIB also disclosed that like the previous phases, majority of the candidates in the third phase of the upazila election are businessmen. Also, 227 of the total candidates were accused in various cases and 307 were accused in various cases in the past.
SAM Siddique, chairman candidate of Kalihati upazila of Tangail district, is at the top of the list with 27 cases pending in his name. In addition, 74 candidates have increased their income by 100% or more compared to 2019. Among them the wealth of chairman candidate Teknaf Upazila of Cox's Bazar district Nurul Alam increased the highest, by 10,422%.
Earlier, TIB said that the dominance of businessmen is prevalent in the second phase of sixth Upazila Elections too, with 71 per cent chairman candidate belonging to the business community. Among the chairman candidates, 105 are millionaires and the number of millionaire aspirants has tripled in the sixth phase polls compared to the fifth Upazila Elections.
Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Sunday revealed the information at a press conference held at TIB office at Dhanmondi after analysing the affidavits submitted to the Election Commission ahead of second phase upazila polls. Apart from the chairman aspirants, 8 vice-chairman candidates, three candidates for vice-chairman posts reserved for women are millionaire.
In the second phase, elections to 160 upazila parishads are scheduled to be held on May 21. TIB has obtained affidavit information of candidates of 157 upazilas from the Election Commission. In the 157 upazilas, 599 are contesting for chairman post while 689 for vice-chairman and 523 for vice-chairman posts reserved for women.
According to TIB, 70.51 per cent chairman candidates in the second phase upazila parishad election mentioned themselves as businessman while second highest 12.17 introduced themselves as farmer. Besides, lawyers (4.17 per cent) and teachers (4.17 per cent) are in third and fourth positions respectively.
Moreover, 68.73 per cent vice-chairman aspirants introduced themselves as businessman and 52 per cent candidates for vice-chairman posts reserved for women have addressed themselves as housewife while 29 per cent as businessman, the TIB said.
TIB said like the Jatiya Sangsad election, candidates from the business community are dominating local body election and this domination is on the rise.
Messenger/Disha
