Among 347 independent candidates participating in the upcoming 12th national parliamentary election, 163 candidates have assets worth more than Tk 1 crore which is 46.97 per cent show Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) data.
This came to light while further analysing a TIB report released at a press conference in Dhaka last Tuesday, which was compiled from affidavits submitted by candidates to the Election Commission.
Among the top 20 candidates who have movable assets worth more than Tk 100 crore, eight are independent.
The affidavits reveal eight key aspects of each candidate, including education, on-going and past criminal cases, profession, income sources, and property, debt, promises kept [if applicable] and loan details [for themselves and dependents].
A noteworthy trend observed is the surge in independent candidates, with 347 out of 1,920 contesting in this election, representing 18 per cent of the total. The percentage of businessman candidates is 57.34 per cent, which is higher than that of any previous polls.
It should be noted that the number of independent candidates was 140 in the 9th parliamentary polls, 105 in the 10th polls, and 134 in the 11th polls respectively.
A substantial portion of these candidates comprises unaffiliated or dissenting members from the ruling party who are not formally nominated, though they were participating to make the election fair, competitive and universally accepted.
SAK Ekramuzzaman from Brahmanbaria-1 has total movable assets worth Tk 421.16 crore, Dilip Kumar Agarwala, Chuadanga-1 Tk 276.19 crore.
Besides, Gazi Golam Murtaza Narayanganj-1, Md Sirajul Islam Mollah, Narsingdi-3, Abdul Kader Azad, Faridpur-3, Mahmuda Begum, Lakshmipur-4, Md Abdullah, Lakshmipur-4, Dewan Jahid Ahmed, Manikganj-2 also have more than Tk 100 crore in movable assets.
Responding to a query, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “It is important to ensure accountability if the assets of the candidates are illegally processed and concealed. But the Election Commission is not performing its duties properly, they are irresponsible.
“Yet it has value because people are finding out. As a result, they will be able to select their representatives through scrutiny.”
Some of the independent candidates are huge land owners. Several candidates own vast landholdings exceeding the Land Reforms Bill of 2023 where one can have 33.33 acres total (including non-agricultural land).
Out of the top ten owners of agrarian land, five of them are independent candidates. Md Golam Kibria Bhuiyan of Kishoreganj – 3 has 646.72 acres of agrarian land, and Mst Beauty Begum of Bagura – 2 has 547.97 acres of agrarian land.
Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN) said, “Most of the independent candidates are dominant. Some of them had previously held various important positions in the party. They do politics for privileges, influence and prestige.
“There is no better place to do business than to get away with injustice without politics.”
Most of the independent candidates have higher loan amounts, where 41.21 per cent of independent candidates have loans and debts. Most of these loans are bank loans or personal loans.
Topping the list of indebted candidates is independent SAK Ekramuzzaman from Brahmanbaria-1, with a staggering Tk 2,537.85 crore in debts. Mohammad Manjur Alam from Chattogram-10 has Tk 2,006.6 crore in debt.
Dr MM Akash, professor at the Department of Economics in Dhaka University, said, “This is not an isolated incident. This is one example of crony capitalism. Those cronies help one another and share loot together.
“Actually, this is an established way to become rich. Until this is stopped nothing will change.”
