Shushaner Jonnyo Nagorik (SUJON) has expressed concerned over the rising trend of business community representatives getting elected to the local government bodies instead of politicians. “Over presence of businessmen in the local government bodies, instead of politicians is alarming for democracy,” said SUJON General Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder, adding “the maximum decision of the local government bodies will favour the business community and it is not favourable for the common people.” The SUJON leader said this, while speaking at a press conference on the recent city corporation polls and the upcoming elections for Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) in the city’s Jatiya Press Club on Saturday.
In his written statement, he said the presence of businessman in local government has risen to 84 per cent in 2013 city corporation elections, while it was 80 per cent in 2008.
Pointing out the profession of the recently elected four city mayors of Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet, the SUJON general secretary described them as businessmen by profession.
He said the information was provided by the candidates, who were elected in the recent city polls on June 15.
Out of the four city mayors, except Rajshahi city Mayor Mohammad Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul holds a post-graduate degree, and rest of the three are below HSC.
Besides, 51 per cent elected-ward commissioners are SSC or below SSC, and the educational background of female councilors from reserve seats is 64 per cent. They made it through the SSC examinations or did not.
About the mayoral candidates contesting the GCC polls, Dr Mojumder said out of the seven candidates, four are highly educated and among the ward councilor candidates 46 per cent are below SSC. Besides, most of the reserved ward councilors are SSC and below SSC.
Out of the seven mayoral candidates, five are businessmen and 70 per cent councilor candidates are also businessmen.
Among others, Noted Columnist and Writer Syed Abul Maksud, founder of the Gono Shasthyo Kendro Dr Zafarullah Chowdhury and Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (BELA) Executive Director Syeda Rizwana Hassan were present on the occasion.
Syed Abul Maksud said this information has been published in the greater interest of the people.
The voters have the right to know about the candidates and they can decide to cast their vote on being informed about the candidates, he said.
Those candidates who do not care to inform the voters about themselves should be considered that they had something to hide, he added.
Dr Zafarullah Chowdhury said it is the failure of the election commission over the participation of more businessmen in the local government elections.
-With The Independent input
