Around 70 per cent of chairman candidates in the first phase of the sixth Upazila Parishad elections are businessmen, while 93 of them have moveable or liquid assets worth over Tk one crore.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) disclosed the information during a press conference at its Dhanmondi office on Monday analysing the affidavits of the candidates submitted in the Election Commission in 144 upazilas.
In the first phase of the sixth Upazila Parishad elections, 17 vice-chairman candidates and six women vice-chairman candidates had moveable or liquid assets worth over Tk one crore. In both cases, the number increased threefold compared to previous polls, reports BSS.
According to the TIB's analysis, 69.86 per cent of the chairman candidates showed their occupation as a business in the first phase. The second highest percentage, 11.19 per cent, showed their occupation as agricultural work. Lawyers (6.32 per cent) and teachers (4.15 per cent) are in the third and fourth positions, respectively.
Similarly, about 69.59 per cent of the candidates for the post of vice-chairman showed their occupation as a business.
According to TIB analysis, 52.22 per cent of the female vice chairman candidates have shown housewifery as their occupation. The second highest, 24.37 per cent, showed their occupation as a business. Social workers or organisers are in the next position, with 5.10 per cent. Teachers (4.87 per cent) and farmers (3.48 per cent) are in the fourth and fifth positions.
