Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has urged the Election Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission and National Board of Revenue to take appropriate action against Upazila Parishad election aspirants who have not submitted the proper statement of assets and who own more than 60 bigha of land.
The TIB made the statements in a research paper disclosure programme titled Upazila Parishad Election-2024 (1st Phase) : Affidavit analysis and results at its Dhanmondi office in the capital.
TIB Executive Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, "In our country, politics and public representation are power oriented.
Personal gain often takes priority over public welfare. The pursuit of political power is seen as a pathway to unlimited wealth expansion, resulting in unhealthy competition."
He said, "From the analysis, we found that earnings of many candidates have increased abnormally, and in some cases, the rate of increase of income and wealth is even higher than that of parliament members."
"There are also doubts whether the information provided in the affidavits are legitimate or correct. Some candidates have presented very low income, which is unbelievable," said Iftekharuzzaman.
He said that, it is the responsibility of the Election Commission, National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to look into the abnormal increase in wealth of the candidates of the upazila election. But unfortunately those organizations are not carrying out their duties proactively.
TIB Outreach and Communication Division Director Mohammad Touhidul Islam presented the keynote paper at the programme.
The paper said that, assets of Upazila Parishad chairmen have increased more than that of MPs in their last ten-year tenure.
The wealth of an upazila chairman has increased by more than 4,200 per cent, although the increase in the wealth of MPs is 3,065 per cent at the highest.
Besides, the movable assets of upazila chairmen have also increased in the last ten years abnormally.
Of the 1,606 candidates in the upcoming first phase sixth Upazila Parishad election, 117 candidates have assets worth Tk1 crore.
Of the candidates, 94 candidates are contesting for chairman posts, 17 for vice-chairman posts, and six for women vice-chairman posts.
According to the TIB research, overall 40 per cent of the candidates have shown income below Tk 3.5 lakh. Only 10 per cent of the candidates have shown an income of more than Tk16.5 lakh.
The number of candidates owning assets over Tk1 crore has doubled this time.
Number of businesspeople contesting the polls has also increased as 56 per cent of the candidates for chairman, vice-chairman and for vice-chairman posts reserved for women.
In 2019, the number of businesspeople contesting polls to the same upazilas was 53 per cent and it was 48 per cent in the 2014 polls, according to the report.
A total of 26 candidates were elected uncontested for the posts of chairman, vice-chairman and woman vice-chairman.
The Upazila Parishad elections will proceed in four phases, with 152 upazilas in the first phase on Wednesday.
The second phase will be held on May 23, the third phase on May 29, and the fourth phase on June 5.
