Businessmen, school educated rule the race

More than 55 percent of the mayoral and councillor candidates of the upcoming elections to four city corporations are businessmen, while a staggering 45 percent did not pass the SSC examinations.
The annual personal income of the mayoral candidates ranges from Tk 1.92 lakh to Tk 4.63 crore, but the annual familial expenditures of some candidates according to their affidavits submitted to the Election Commission cast doubt on the facts.
For example, immediate past mayor of Khulna City Corporation Talukder Abdul Khaleque, whose income is Tk 4.63 crore a year, declared his annual familial expenditure to be Tk 1.30 lakh.
BNP-backed mayoral candidate of Rajshahi City Corporation Mosaddek Hossain shows his familial expenses as Tk 1.35 lakh a year whereas his annual income is Tk 1.92 lakh.
The amount of money mentioned by the candidates as their annual familial expenses are unbelievable, observed Shushashoner Janney Nagarik (SHUJAN) while disclosing its study yesterday at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital.
Elections to four city corporations -- Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet-- will be held on June 15.  A total of 12 candidates are vying for the mayoral posts.
SHUJAN prepared the study on the basis of the affidavits submitted by the candidates.
"The purpose of presenting the information is to empower voters so that they know about the candidates before casting their votes," said SHUJAN Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar.
Interestingly, 75 percent of the total candidates said they each had assets worth below Tk 5 lakh.
Eleven candidates are accused in murder cases.
The cases do not mean that the candidates are guilty, said Badiul. "We are disclosing these just to get the voters informed."
Of the total candidates, only 116 candidates completed graduation. In Sylhet, only one candidate passed the HSC exams while the other two did not pass even SSC.