The majority of candidates running in the upazila elections are only interested in accumulating and expanding their wealth. It is happening. A significant number of election winners have experienced financial success. After the winner takes possession of the fortune, he is once more eligible to receive an increase in wealth. He has triumphed on several occasions. This has been shown in results of the upazila election results. Numerous people whose wealth has increased significantly were re-elected in the second phase of the Upazila Parishad elections last Tuesday, according to a report by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
The recently released TIB report claims that there is a revolting race to be a representative of the people now, due to the convenient opportunity to increase wealth. It is evident that the income and assets of the elected representatives have increased manifold. If we compare the candidates who won the Upazila Parishad elections with the candidates who were not elected in the last five years, it is evident that the income and wealth of the elected representatives increased manifold. There is also information that some have increased their wealth almost 12,000 times. That is, the tendency to increase income and wealth quickly with power has become clear. Not only that, a few upazila chairmen are ahead of many members of parliament in the competition to increase wealth.
The results of the recently concluded first and second phase elections show that most of the upazila chairman, vice chairman, and female vice chairmen, who were controversial about increasing financial resources, were re-elected. Notable among them is Khan Arifur Rahman. He was elected chairman for the second term in Jhalkathi Sadar Upazila in the second phase of the upazila elections held last Tuesday. He won the Upazila Parishad in 2019 and served for 5 years, during which his wealth increased 11 thousand 666 times. Abdur Rashid won the Thakurgaon seat in 2019 and served as upazila chairman for 5 years. His wealth increased 10,000,866 times during this time. Feroza Parveen has increased her wealth by 8 thousand 531 times in the last 5 years by serving as female vice chairman in Chatmohar Upazila of Pabna. Similarly, Biswa Pradip Kumar Karbari increased his wealth by 319 times by performing the duties of chairman, Ramgarh Upazila, Khagrachari.
Shahinul Alam Chana has been elected chairman for the third time in the Mollahat Upazila Parishad of Bagerhat. He has increased his wealth by 5 thousand 336 times in the previous 10 years by serving two terms. In addition to personal wealth, many representatives have also increased the land holdings and wealth of the family, including their wives. The wealth of the family, including the wife of the chairman of the Chakaria upazila of Cox's Bazar, Fazlul Karim, has increased by 1,010 times in the last 5 years.
Mohammad Abdul Halim, Chairman of Mirpur Upazila of Kushtia, and Shibaloy Upazila Chairman of Manikganj have been included in the top ten list in terms of land ownership. Abdur Rahim Khan. At present, Mohammad Abdul Halim's land is 41.3 acres. And Abdur Rahim Khan's land is 34.29 acres.
Mohammad Abdul Halim, chairman of Mirpur Upazila of Kushtia, and Md. Abdur Rahim Khan, chairman of Shivaloy Upazila of Manikganj, have been included in the top ten list in terms of land ownership. Currently, the total land of Mohammad Abdul Halim is 41.3 acres, and Md. Abdur Rahim Khan's land is 34.29 acres.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of TIB, told Khaborer Kagoj, "The responsible institutions do not show any interest in fulfilling that responsibility to verify whether the affidavit data show unusual growth of wealth is consistent with their legitimate income or not and whether there has been abuse of power in acquiring or increasing wealth. On the other hand, the information provided in the affidavit is not checked for adequacy and reliability. They need to be checked properly."
"There is an opportunity to investigate whether sudden wealth and abnormal increases in wealth are illegal or not. Such incidents fall under the Scheduled Crimes of the ACC. So the ACC can look into the allegations of illegal wealth against the concerned people if they want," said Khurshid Alam Khan, lawyer of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
