Dhaka, Jan 06 – More than 61 (61.07%) percent of the newly elected lawmakers, at least 182 of 298 for the 11th parliament are from the business community, Civil society platform Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) said at a press conference Sunday. Dilip Kumar Sarker, central coordinator of Shujan read out a report at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital. The report showed, 174 lawmakers are from the Awami League-led grand alliance. Almost 81.87 (244 persons) have wealth above Tk one crore, according to published affidavits of lawmakers submitted to Election Commission along with their nomination papers for December 30 general election, lawmakers are business persons.
Thirty-eight MPs-elect are lawyers, while 14 are employed in different organisations, which are 13.19 percent and 4.86 percent respectively.
Around 8.16 percent, 12 elected lawmakers are involved in agriculture while 47 in other activities.
“The participation of businessmen in the parliament is increasing day by day and we look upon it positive,” Dilip Kumar said. Form the elected, 21 have cases against them.
The statement also said that the election time atmosphere was not conducive and marked by violence, intimidation, harassment, unnecessary arrests and impediments to publicity campaigns.
There are accusations that many Oikya Front candidates were under siege in their homes. The statement included election irregularities like exhaustion of ballot papers by 11 in the morning, abnormal vote casting in several centres, forced votes and the like.
Shujan’s secretary, Dr Badiul Alam Mazumdar, says, “We work on the election process and a lot of questions have been raised already on the recently concluded polls which the EC must investigate.” – Staff Reporter
