Some 219 mayoral candidates, out of 904, are now facing criminal charges, according to an analysis by Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN).
A non-government organisation, SHUJAN came up with the statistics at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) yesterday, analysing affidavits of the mayoral candidates submitted while filing nomination papers to contest the December 30 municipality elections.
Among the 904 mayoral contenders, 321 had criminal cases in the past, the analysis revealed adding that the number of mayoral candidates who are facing criminal charges this time and also in the past is 121.
Among 221 ruling Awami League mayoral contestants, 33 are now facing criminal cases, while 102 had criminal cases in the past, said SHUJAN Central Coordinator Dilip Kumar while placing the statistics.
When it comes to BNP, he said, the figures are 96 and 102 respectively among its 206 mayoral candidates.
Out of the 904 mayoral hopefuls, 36 candidates are now accused in murder cases, while 64 had the same charges in the past, Dilip Kumar said.
The academic qualifications of 224 candidates are below SSC, while 341 are either postgraduates or graduates, according to the SHUJAN findings.
Besides, 652 mayoral hopefuls among the 904 are businessmen. The ruling Awami League picked 74.66% businessmen for mayors, while BNP 78.64%.
A total of 47 mayoral candidates, including 20 of AL and 13 of BNP have assets worth more than Tk1 crore each, the SHUJAN analysis said.
About polls code violation, SHUJAN Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder alleged the Election Commission is not taking enough actions in this regard.
He said the EC wants to shift its responsibility by saying that it would investigate the incidents of violation of the election code only after receiving complaints.
SHUJAN Executive Member Dr Hamida Hossain urged the EC to probe the alleged incidents of code violation on its own.
“Ministers and MPs allegedly violated the election code of conduct during the Victory Day celebrations in several places, but the commission is not taking any step in this regard,” she said.