The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has raised concerns about the recent 6th Upazila Parishad Election, indicating a troubling trend of power abuse and wealth accumulation among elected representatives.
In a press conference held on Sunday (9 June) at its Dhaka office, TIB presented an in-depth analysis of candidates' affidavits, revealing that many candidates prioritise self-enrichment over public welfare, posing significant risks to good governance, democracy, and anti-corruption efforts in Bangladesh.
TIB's analysis uncovered alarming growth rates in the assets of public representatives. Over the last five years, the income of some representatives increased by up to 31,900%, with their spouses and dependents' assets growing by 12,400%.
Chairmen saw their movable assets surge by 11,666%, while a winning candidate's income skyrocketed by 10,866.67%, and their immovable assets grew by 23,937.65%. This rapid wealth accumulation during their tenure suggests rampant power abuse.
TIB highlighted significant inconsistencies between candidates' affidavits and their tax returns, with 40% of candidates reporting no taxable income despite evident wealth.
Businessmen make up 57.36% of total candidates, with a notable presence among chairmen (69%), vice chairmen (68.16%), and women vice chairmen (28%), according to the TIB analysis.
TIB pointed out a stark income disparity among candidates, with 23% of chairman candidates earning over Tk16.5 lakh compared to 3.03% of other candidates. Some candidates own land exceeding legal limits, with 25 candidates possessing a total of 874 acres, including seven who won the election.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of TIB, emphasised the urgent need for political leadership to address these issues.
He urged institutions like the Election Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and National Board of Revenue to investigate and enforce accountability measures.
The TIB's "Know Your Candidate" dashboard, which provides a comprehensive analysis of over 16,500 affidavits from the fourth, fifth, and sixth upazila council elections, was presented as a resource for political parties to combat corruption and promote good governance.
