TIB: Businessmen dominate 2nd phase upazila polls too
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70.51% chairman candidates introduced themselves as businessman
The dominance of businessmen is prevalent in the second phase of sixth upazila elections too, with 71% chairman candidate belonging to the business community.
Among the chairman candidates, 105 have assets worth Tk1 crore, and the number of such 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 the second phase upazila polls.
Apart from the chairman aspirants, eight vice-chairman candidates, three candidates for vice-chairman posts reserved for women are have assets worth Tk1 crore.
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% chairman candidates in the second phase upazila parishad election mentioned themselves as a businessman, while the second highest 12.17% introduced themselves as farmer.
Besides, lawyers (4.17%) and teachers (4.17%) are in third and fourth positions respectively.
Moreover, 68.73% of vice-chairman aspirants introduced themselves as businessman, and 52% of candidates for vice-chairman posts reserved for women have addressed themselves as housewife while 29% as businessmen, the TIB said.
TIB said like the Jatiya Sangsad election, candidates from the business community are dominating local body elections and this domination is on the rise.