Most of the mayor and councillor aspirants in Dhaka North and Dhaka South city polls are businessmen, a citizen’s forum said on Monday.
The rate of businessman among the mayor and councillor aspirants is 67.02 percent and 71.82 percent in Dhaka North and Dhaka South city polls respectively.
The Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujon), a citizen’s forum campaigning for good governance, revealed these after analysing the information of mayor and councillor candidates submitted to the election commission.
Shujon secretary Badiul Alam Majumder said they have done the analysis to raise awareness among the voters.
Saying that many of the councillor aspirants are contractors, Badiul Alam pointed out that they should not be entrusted with such powers.
Shujon said 19.62 percent candidates in Dhaka North city polls are accused in different cases, among which 3.49 percent are sued in murder cases.
In Dhaka South city polls, 20.54 percent candidates are accused in different cases, among which 4.33 percent are accused of murder charges.
“To be accused in a case does not mean that one is guilty. The opposition party leaders are facing cases,” Badiul Alam said.
About educational qualifications of the candidates, Shujon said 11.55 percent candidates are post-graduates and 15.86 percent candidates are graduates in Dhaka North city polls.
Shujon also said that 46.77 percent candidates in Dhaka North have education below secondary school level.
In Dhaka South, 9.09 percent candidates are post-graduates and 10.74 percent candidates are graduates while 52.89 percent candidates are of below the secondary level education, the Shujon added.
Badiul Alam alleged that the election commission is not applying its full authority and many people cannot campaign due to cases filed against them.
He warned that the defeated candidates may demonstrate if the election is not held in a free, fair and credible manner.
Source: Prothom Alo
