Many Upazila Parishad chairmen saw their movable properties grow at a higher rate than members of parliament in their last five-year tenure, the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has found.
Unveiling the data in the TIB office in the capital today (6 May), it was shown that GM Selim Parvez, UP chairman of Fulchori of Gaibandha District, saw his holdings rise by 4,200%, whereas the highest growth for an MP was 3,065%.
Aside from Parvez, five more chairmen, vice-chairmen and women vice-chairmen saw their moveable assets grow by more than 1,000%.
The TIB findings were based on 1,600 affidavits of candidates appearing for the upcoming first phase of the 6th Upazila Parishad elections slated for 8 May.
This time, 94 candidates, among the total 560 candidates for the post of chairman of the first phase, own crores of taka.
This is almost triple the number of candidates with such wealth in the last election.
The TIB findings also said about 70% of chairman candidates are businessmen.
The TIB report says, around 70 percent of chairman candidates are businessmen in the first phase of the 6th Upazila Parishad elections while 93 of them have moveable or liquid assets worth over Taka one crore.
In the first phase of the 6th upazila parishad elections, the number of candidates having moveable or liquid assets worth over Taka 1.0 crore is 17 among vice-chairman candidates and six among woman vice-chairman candidates. In the both cases, the number increased three times compared to previous polls.
According to the TIB’s analysis, 69.86 percent of the chairman candidates showed their occupation as business in the first phase. The second highest 11.19 percent showed their occupation as agricultural works. Lawyers (6.32pc) and teachers (4.15pc) are in the third and fourth positions.
Similarly, about 69.59 percent of the candidates for the post of vice-chairman showed their occupation as business.
According to TIB analysis, 52.22 percent of the woman vice chairman candidates have shown housewifery as their occupation. Second highest 24.37 percent showed their occupation as business. Social workers or organizers are at the next position, with 5.10 percent. Teachers (4.87pc) and farmers (3.48pc) are in the fourth and fifth positions.
