Bengal’s 13th National Parliamentary Elections have revealed that over 36% of candidates are affiliated with Islamist parties, marking the highest percentage in the past five elections. According to Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), 59.41% of candidates from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are struggling with debt, while 26.97% of Jatiya Party candidates also face financial burdens.
A total of 51 political parties are participating in the elections, with 1,981 candidates, including 249 independent candidates and 1,732 party-backed candidates. Notably, 25.5% of candidates have some form of debt or financial obligations, with a total debt of 18,868.52 crore taka, including 17,471.67 crore taka in bank loans.
The Islamist-backed panel has made significant gains, with the Chhatra Shibir-backed panel securing key positions, including the deputy leader, general secretary, and assistant general secretary. The panel has also won 22 seats in the Chittagong University Central Student Union elections.
According to TIB, a total of 530 candidates are facing charges, while 740 candidates have faced charges in the past. The average declared election expenses of all candidates stand at 22.5 lakh taka per candidate, with the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh having the highest expenses of 119.5 crore taka and 80.6 crore taka, respectively.
Interestingly, many candidates’ spouses or dependents have more assets than the candidates themselves, including land, buildings, and movable assets. The TIB report also highlights that many candidates have assets in excess of 1 crore taka, with 891 candidates being millionaires and 27 being billionaires.
In terms of professional background, 48% of candidates are traders, followed by lawyers (12.61%), teachers (11.56%), and politicians (1.56%). Notably, no party has achieved the target of 5% female candidates.
The report also notes that the elections have been marred by controversy, with allegations of vote rigging and irregularities being reported in several constituencies. The TIB report has called for greater transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
In related news, the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has dissolved the lower house of parliament, paving the way for early elections on February 8. The US-China trade war continues to escalate, with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to meet soon.
In other news, a 68-year-old businessman from Mumbai has been arrested for allegedly defrauding investors of 11 crore rupees through online trading. In a separate incident, 25 people have died and over 24 have fallen ill in the state of Madhya Pradesh after drinking contaminated water.
