79% of those elected in 6th upazila polls are businessmen: TIB

Around 79% of the chairman candidates elected in the 6th upazila parishad elections are businessmen, with 132 or 30.41% have assets worth Tk1 crore each, according to Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).

The number of newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen with Tk1 crore worth of assets stands at 150.  

TIB disclosed the data, derived from an analysis of affidavits of candidates who were elected in the upazila elections, at a press conference held at their office in the capital on Sunday.

The think-tank said 69% of chairman candidates, 68.16% of vice-chairman candidates and 28% of female vice-chairman candidates, in their affidavits, mentioned business as a profession. In total, 57.36% of candidates have identified business as their chosen profession.

Of them, 7.13% or 390 candidates have assets of more than Tk1 crore each.

Of the elected, 150 candidates or 12.37% have assets worth Tk1 crore each. Of them, 132 or 30.41% have been elected as chairmen.

In addition, of the elected, 40 individuals' annual income stands at Tk1 crore each.

Revealing the analysis, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said an unhealthy competition is developing in the country centered on abuse of power in the name of public representation.

According to the organisation, there were a total of 5,472 candidates in the sixth upazila election - 1,864 for the post of chairman, 2,95 for vice-chairman and 1,513 for the post of female vice-chairman.

The election took place in 4 phases in 442 upazilas.