Businessmen among MP candidates decline, lawyers and teachers rise: TIB
Participation by lawyers has gradually increased. Lawyers made up 9.60% of candidates in the 11th election and 9.40% in the 12th election, rising to 11.56% in the 13th election
The professional composition of candidates in national parliamentary elections has undergone notable changes, with a decline in businessmen and an increase in lawyers and teachers, according to Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
The share of candidates identifying politics as their profession has declined the most.
TIB's analysis shows that although businessmen consistently dominated candidate profiles from the 11th to the 12th parliamentary elections, their share declined in the most recent election, while participation by lawyers and teachers increased.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
According to TIB data, businessmen accounted for about 47.83% of candidates in the 9th parliamentary election (2008). The share rose to 56.91% in the 10th election (2014).
It then fell slightly to 51.20% in the 11th election (2018) before increasing again to 57.67% in the 12th election (2024). In the upcoming 13th parliamentary election, businessmen account for 48.48% of candidates.
Participation by lawyers has gradually increased. Lawyers made up 9.60% of candidates in the 11th election and 9.40% in the 12th election, rising to 11.56% in the 13th election.
Similarly, the share of teacher candidates has also grown. Teachers accounted for 11.03% of candidates in the 9th election, 3.13% in the 10th, 10.33% in the 11th, and 5.01% in the 12th election. Their share has risen to 12.61% in the 13th election.
TIB's analysis further shows that although candidates from salaried jobs and agricultural backgrounds remain comparatively few, they have participated consistently in elections.
The proportion of candidates listing politics as their profession has remained relatively low across all elections, standing at 1.56% in the current election.
