Record crore‑rich candidates in race

The upcoming national election will see participation from the highest number of MP candidates with assets worth Tk 1 crore or more, said Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) yesterday.

The Bangladesh chapter of the global anti corruption watchdog analysed the latest affidavits of valid candidates and released its findings ahead of the February 12 polls.

TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman and Director of Outreach and Communication Mohammad Tauhidul Islam presented the findings at a press briefing in Dhanmondi.

Speaking to this newspaper, Tauhidul, who also led the research team, said their findings are based on the analysis of affidavits submitted by 2,288 candidates who were initially declared valid by the Election Commission.

With many of them later pulling out, a total of 1,981 candidates now remain in the race.

The watchdog reported that 1,696 candidates are contesting a national election for the first time.

Of the valid candidates, 560 declared movable or liquid assets worth Tk 1 crore or more. The number was 273 in the 2008 election and has steadily risen to 547 by 2024.

Seven of the 10 candidates with the highest movable assets are from the BNP, while three are independents.

BNP’s candidate from Chapainawabganj 2, Aminul Islam, declared the highest movable assets, totalling Tk 599 crore.

Twenty seven candidates reported movable and immovable assets worth Tk 100 crore or more, including 18 from the BNP and nine independents.

A total of 891 MP aspirants declared movable and immovable assets worth Tk 1 crore or more.

TIB found that 76 percent of candidates hold at least an undergraduate degree -- the highest share to date.

Although the number of candidates who identify as businesspeople fell slightly, they still make up almost half (48 percent) of those in the race, while career politicians account for less than two percent.

Iftekharuzzaman said this fact is a reflection of money’s role in politics.

Islamist party nominees now account for over one third of the valid candidates, marking their strongest presence since 2008.

Asked to comment on this sharp rise, Iftekharuzzaman said, “Muscle power and money have long been prominent elements in politics, and now religion has also become a factor, which gives us something to reflect on.”

Meanwhile, women make up only four percent of parliamentary contenders, the lowest representation since 2014. Twenty-four female candidates are contesting from the BNP-led alliance, while only six are from the Jamaat-led combine.

On women’s lower representation, Iftekharuzzaman pointed out that that about 10 percent of independents are female -- challenging political parties’ claim that there are not enough qualified female contenders.

The watchdog noted that while indebted candidates are at their lowest share in five elections, 25 percent still carry loans or liabilities totalling Tk 18,868 crore -- the highest to date.

A total of 59.41 percent of BNP candidates have loans, while the figures stand at 32.79 percent for independents, 26.97 percent for the Jatiya Party, 25 percent for the Communist Party of Bangladesh, and 22.26 percent for Jamaat e Islami.

Several MP aspirants possess more than 50 acres of land, in violation of existing law. A total of 530 candidates, or 22.66 percent, currently face lawsuits. The average age of candidates is 51 years -- the lowest since 2008, when it stood at 72.

Replying to a question, Iftekharuzzaman said he hopes that the Election Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission and National Board of Revenue will find discrepancies in the affidavits of the candidates and take action accordingly.

BRITISH CITIZENSHIP CONCEALED

Iftekharuzzaman said 21 candidates had declared in their affidavits that they had acquired foreign citizenship and later renounced it to become eligible to contest the election.

“However, at least two candidates who held dual citizenship did not disclose the information in their affidavits,” he said, adding that information obtained by TIB indicated they were British citizens.

Candidates are legally required to declare dual citizenship and submit proof of renunciation of foreign citizenship along with their affidavits.

He declined to name the two candidates, saying TIB policy does not allow disclosure of such information publicly.

“However, we have relevant documents and will inform the concerned authorities,” he said.

FOREIGN ASSETS

Iftekharuzzaman said information suggested that in 2013 a house worth £1.4 million was purchased in the UK in the name of a declared dependent of one candidate, but the property was not mentioned in the affidavit.

He further said one candidate failed to declare any personal assets abroad, despite his wife owning a flat in Dubai.

Another candidate disclosed ownership of three flats abroad, while the actual number is at least three times higher.

TIB also found that a candidate who did not disclose ownership of any foreign business enterprises was linked to 11 companies abroad.

In addition, although information about one candidate having company registrations in tax havens has long been publicly available, no such declaration was found in the candidate’s affidavit, Iftekharuzzaman said.