Most of the candidates included in BNP’s list of lone ward councillor contenders published yesterday are facing more than one cases and many of them are on the run.
The list is not complete because the party has not managed to reach consensus regarding who to back in at least seven wards in the capital city. The party kept wards 15, 20, 24, 39, 49 and 54 in the south open for candidates and ward 26 in the north.
An analysis of the affidavits that these candidates have submitted with the Election Commission (EC) revealed that around 60% of are facing criminal cases.
Anwaruzzaman Anwar from ward number 27 of Dhaka north is facing a total of 47 cases which is also the highest among candidates from all parties.
Lokman Hossain Fakir from ward 13 of Dhaka south comes in second with as many as 45 cases.
In terms of education, around 30% of the candidates are graduates and the qualification of some 23% aspirants is below SSC. Around 21% said in their affidavits that they are self educated.
Only 18% have passed the SSC examination and 10% HSC exam.
Around 68% of the BNP-backed candidates said they are businessmen. Interestingly, income from house rent is the main source of income of more than 16% of the candidates who said their profession is business.
The BNP has backed five women for the reserved female councillor posts; of them four are in the south.
Adorsho Dhaka Gorar Andolon, a pro-BNP election platform, issued a press release last night announcing the name of the candidates.
The platform’s convener Prof Dr Emajuddin Ahamed, also a former VC of Dhaka University, and member secretary Sawkat Mahmud signed the press release.
The release also said that they are backing Mirza Abbas for the south’s mayor and Tabith M Awal for the north.
A few days ago, ruling Awami League also published a list of the councillor candidates that it is supporting for the April 28 polls.