116 candidates have wealth worth Tk1cr or more: TIB

The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has said that more than 57 percent of the candidates taking part in the second phase of Upazila Parishad elections mentioned business as their profession.

Around 70.51 percent of the candidates for the post of chairman and 68.73 percent of the candidates for the post of vice chairman in the second phase of upazila elections are businessmen, said TIB officials at a press conference organized at Dhanmondi in the capital on Sunday (May 19), to present the analysis of the affidavits of the candidates.

According to TIB, 70 percent of the chairman candidates in the first phase election were businessmen, 67 percent vice chairman and 24 percent women vice chairman candidates were businessmen.

Besides, 105 chairman candidates have wealth worth Tk 1 crore or more.

Moreover, eight candidates for the post of vice chairman and three female vice chairman candidates have wealth worth Tk 1 crore or more. The total number of candidates with wealth worth Tk 1 crore or more is 116. Compared to the last upazila parishad election, the number has increased by three times this time.

Candidates’ wealth has been calculated on the basis of movable assets. According to TIB, immovable assets such as land are not included as benchmarks as they are difficult to value.

In the second phase, candidates are contesting in 160 upazila elections to be held on May 21. Information about the affidavits of candidates of 157 upazilas has been received from the Election Commission. Among these 157 upazilas, 599 people are contesting for the post of chairman, 689 people for the post of vice chairman and 523 people for the post of female vice chairman.