Some 30 per cent of 379 candidates contesting for the office of chairman in the upcoming fourth phase of the upazila election face cases, including allegations of murder.
This was revealed on Thursday by Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) which said the data was based on the affidavits the candidates have submitted to the election commission.
The fourth-phase election will be held on March 23 in 92 upazilas. Sujan, a non-government organization, seeks to promote good governance and transparency.
It said about 34 percent of the chairman candidates are graduates, while 19 per cent are postgraduates. Majority of the candidates are businessmen, the data found.
It said 60 per cent of the candidates are involved in business, while 15 per cent in agriculture, 13 per cent in service and five percent in legal profession. Sixteen chairman candidates did not mention their professions.
Eleven candidates (3pc) have wealth, including the wealth of dependents worth more than Tk five crore each, while 42 (11pc) others over Tk one crore each and the wealth of 66 (17pc) candidates less than Tk five lakh each.
The annual income of five candidates is more than one crore each, while that of 98 candidates (26pc) is less than Tk two lakh.
Co-coordinator of Sujan Sanjida Haque Bipasha presented the keynote paper revealing the statistics.
She said violence has led to suspension of voting in 71 polling stations in the first three phases of upazila elections.
Besides, anomalies occurred in 471 polling stations –six in the 1st phase, 100 in the 2nd phase and 365 in the 3rd phase- in the previous phases of the countrywide upazila elections, she said.
Three persons were killed and more than 200 other were injured in the polls violence during the first three phases, she said.
Addressing the press conference, Sujan President M Hafizuddin Khan said the Election Commission failed to hold fair elections despite it has adequate legal power.
The commission will have to bear the responsibility.
“If the commission defends the violence saying that such violence is normal then we’ve nothing to say,” he said.
Sujan secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder alleged that the EC does not apply its power to hold fair elections and prevent vote rigging. – UNB
