The nomination papers of 117 candidates for 30 ward councillor posts in Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) elections have been declared valid although 38 of them are accused in different cases.
A total of 124 people had submitted their nomination papers for 30 ward councillor posts.
Among the valid candidates, 38 candidates are accused in a minimum of one to a maximum of 21 cases.
Some of them are accused of murder, and some in arms or smuggling cases.
Among the candidates, the highest number of 21 cases were filed against Md Kamruzzaman, the councillor candidate of ward no 5. The cases include 12 that are under trial, while six are under investigation. He has already been acquitted in two cases.
Most of the current cases against Kamruzzaman are under the Explosives Control Act and the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Besides, there are 46 valid candidates for 10 reserved women ward councillor seats. There are no cases against them, with two of them having been acquitted.
Around 44% of the general ward councillor candidates are accused of various criminal cases.
According to affidavits submitted to the Election Commission, apart from the 38 councillor candidates, 18 other councillor candidates were previously accused in cases. However, they have all been acquitted.
Some have resolved the cases through settlement with the plaintiff.
Afzal Hossain, the candidate of ward no 14, is accused in 14 cases under the Explosives Control Act and Anti-Terrorism Act.
The number of cases against Jamaat leader Abdus Samad, the candidate of ward no 30, is six. Of these cases, two are under trial and four are under investigation. He has already been acquitted in four cases.
There is a murder case against Kamal Hossain, the candidate and current councilor of ward no 3. There is also a case against ward no 7 candidate and current councillor Matiur Rahman.
Current councillor Ashraful Hasan Bachchu, also a candidate of ward no 28, is accused in two cases. Rabiul Islam of ward no 26 is accused in four cases.
Alif Al Mahmoud Luken, councillor candidate of ward no 25, is accused in three cases. Earlier, he was acquitted in six cases.
Rezaun Nabi Al Mamun, the candidate for ward no15, has been acquitted in 15 cases but still has one case that is ongoing.
There are two cases against Razzak Ahmed Rajan, candidate of ward no 10, while ward no 7 candidate Zahirul Islam Rubel is accused in three cases. He was acquitted of a murder case in 2018.
Ashraf Hossain Babu, candidate for ward no 19, is accused in three cases. Two of them are under trial, and the proceedings of one case have been adjourned.
Another candidate of the same ward, Nuruzzaman Tito, has two cases against him, including one for murder.
Two cases are ongoing in the labour court against Mahatab Hossain Chowdhury, the candidate of ward no 23 and the current councillor.
Besides, Ward no 16 candidate and current councillor Belal Ahmed is accused in two cases. The pending case against the candidate of ward no 30 and current councillor Shahidul Islam Pintu is one.
Ward Awami League General Secretary and candidate of ward no 23 Mehedi Hasan is also accused in a case. Nomanul Islam, candidate of ward no 2, also has two cases against him. There are four pending cases against ward no 26 candidate Mohiuddin Babu.
Despite being acquitted in three cases, two cases are still ongoing against Masud Rana.
Ruhul Amin, candidate of ward no 4, is accused in eight cases in the court. There are three cases against ward no 3 councilor candidate BNP leader Habibur Rahman while ward no 5 councillor candidate Hamidul Islam Sujon has two pending cases and Mukhlesur Rahman, councillor candidate of 2 no ward, has seven cases.
Gias Uddin, councillor candidate of ward no 29, is accused in nine cases. Anarul Islam and Eklas Hossain Lucky of the same ward are accused in one case each. Anwarul Amin, present councillor and candidate of ward no 27 is accused in three cases.
Abu Bakkar Kinu, candidate of ward no 11, is also accused in a land related case. Md Tutul of ward no 14 is accused in three cases.
There are three cases against current councillor Tariqul Alam Paltu and also a candidate of ward no 25.
There is one case against each of ward no 14 candidates Anwar Hossain, Murad Ali, ward no 26 candidate Akhter Ahmmed Baccu, ward no 29 candidate Abu Zafar Babu, ward no 6 candidate Md Bodiuzzaman, ward no 26 candidate Mukhlesur Rahman Khalil, ward no 27 candidate Md Moniruzzaman, ward no 8 candidate Jan-e-Alam Khan Jony, ward no 24 candidate Jahangir Alam and ward no 10 candidate Aminul Islam.
Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) President Ahmed Safiuddin said that it is the responsibility of voters to elect honest and qualified public representatives. They will vote after finding out about the candidate, that is as it should be. Then a qualified representative will be elected. Voters should take care that no convicted terrorist or criminal can become a public representative.
Regional Election Officer and City Election Returning Officer Md Delwar Hossain said that election symbols will be allotted to the candidates on June 2.
After that, the official campaign will begin.
The RCC city elections will be held on June 21 through EVMs.