DOT Desk: [2] The Election Commission (EC) is “depriving voters of their rights” by not disclosing wealth information of candidates, Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) said yesterday, reports The Daily Sun.

[3] “We’ve seen that the (Election) Commission stopped disclosing wealth statements of candidates from the Dhaka City Corporation polls (held in 2020). Similar situation is observed in the Narayanganj City Corporation polls,” said Shujan Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar.

[4] Wealth disclosure helps a voter make informed choice when electing candidates. “But the EC is depriving voters,” he said. “The EC is a constitutional organisation. It is a free organisation. We want to ask the Election Commission whose interest it is serving?” he added.

Shujan’s Treasurer Syed Abu Naser Bukhtear Ahmed said that it is observed, after serving five years, wealth statement of a public representative swelled four to five times.

“How is it possible? These information help voters to choose the right candidate,” he said.

They said this at a press conference on disclosing information on candidates of Narayanganj City Corporation election and demanding fair and free polls.

Shujan organised the press conference on a virtual platform.

According to Shujan, seven are vying in the mayoral race while 148 for councillor posts and 34 in reserved seats.

Of them, 120 candidates have either passed SSC or failed to complete school education. Of the seven mayoral candidates, two are businessmen, one lawyer, one physician and two are service holders. One candidate did not disclose his occupation.

Three mayor candidates are facing criminal cases. Forty councillors are facing cases and eight are facing charges in murder cases.

A candidate and NCC’s running Mayor Ivy, who declared her profession as doctor, has the highest annual income — Tk 19.38 lakh earned through mayorship.

Fifty-eight candidates has wealth less than Tk 5 lakh and 14 candidates have wealth over Tk 1 crore.