43 accused in criminal cases, 66 don't even have SSC

Rajshahi city dwellers are trying to come to terms with the fact that a considerable number of councillor candidates in the June 15 city corporation polls are accused in different criminal cases and have had little or no schooling.
Affidavits the 155 candidates of the 30 wards presented to the regional Election Commission justify the citizens' fears.
A total 43 of them are accused in around 100 criminal cases. Another 66 did not complete school level education while 38 can only give signatures, let alone have schooling.
Rejaunnabi Al Mamun, contesting in ward 15, is accused in 13 cases. Arrested by police two weeks ago after arrest warrants were issued centring three cases, he is now out on bail.
Another contestant out on bail is Moniruzzaman Sharif of ward 19, an accused in eight cases whom locals term land grabber and fraudster. Another land grabber-accused is Shahadat Hossain Sahu of ward 17, an accused in three cases.
The lone two candidates of ward 4 are Sazzad Hossain, accused in two cases, and Ruhul amin, accused in five.
Four of the eight candidates of ward 29 are accused in cases. Of them, Gias Uddin, backed by Jamaat-e-Islami, is accused in four cases over bomb explosions while another Jamaat backed candidate Abu Zafar Babu is accused in three.
The remaining two are BNP-backed candidates Shahjahan Ali, accused in three cases, and Mizanur Rahman Babu, accused in two.
Newspaper reports stated that ward 9 candidate Rejaunnabi Dudu, accused in a case under the narcotics control act, was allegedly involved in corruption with Rajshahi Development Authority.
Locals said both Rabiul Alam Milu of ward 13 and Tarikul Alam Paltu of ward 25 are known for manipulating tender processes and violent activities.
Three contestants of ward 1 -- Alamgir Hossain, Monir Hossain and Mansur Rahman -- know just how to give signatures. Similar is the aptitude of Hossain, a truck driver by profession contesting from ward 3, and Akram Ali, a day labourer contesting from ward 29.
Another truck driver, Saidur Rahman, contesting from ward 28, studied up to class 8.
“All of them are criminals. How can you select a good person from the lot?” one resident, Sekander Ali, a shopkeeper, told The Daily Star yesterday.
“It is disappointing when one has to choose the right person among candidates accused in criminal cases and lacking proper education,” said Rajshahi University teacher Moloy Kumar Bhowmik.
“Yet, if the candidates understand the importance of education, they could play a positive role,” he said.
Returning Officer Shubhash Chandra Sarker said voters do have the option to be very selective as all relevant information regarding the candidates was made public.
On the brighter side, nine candidates have masters degree, 21 are graduates, 33 passed HSC and another 25 SSC and one has a diploma in engineering. Moreover, 101 are businessmen, 25 contractors, six teachers, two lawyers, and 20 are associated with agricultural production.
Of the candidates, 51 are involved with Awami League, 46 BNP, six Jamaat and one Workers' Party of Bangladesh.