Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik [SUJAN] has demanded to change the present Election Commission and hold a fresh participatory parliamentary election in a bid to restore the country’s democratic system.SUJAN secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder made the demand at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Sunday where he also disclosed information about the MPs in the 10th parliament. “January 5 election was distorted as people were not involved in it. So, there is a need to arrange a participatory parliamentary election as soon as possible for the welfare of the country,” Badiul Alam Mazumder said.Expressing dissatisfaction about the role of Election Commission in the just concluded upzila election, he further said: “We do not need such kind of Election Commission, which is not capable to hold a free, fair and credible election.”Analyzing the affidavits of the lawmakers, SUJAN chief claimed that a total 226 lawmakers of the 10th national parliament are millionaire. Besides, the businessmen are the dominant occupational groups in the 10th Parliament as 50 percent of its members are businessmen.”Some 175 members of the parliament are businessmen, 51 are lawyers and 21 farmers. About 128 members of the parliament have obtained post-graduation degree while 147 completed graduation,” Badiul Alam said.Out of 350 MPs, the number of businessmen is 175, the lawyers 51. Some 226 [64.57%] MPs out of 350 are millionaires who have wealth worth over Tk 1 crore each and 42% of them do not pay income tax.The annual income of each 55 MPs, including the income of their dependents, is more than Tk one crore each. Of them, income of 17 is less than Tk two lakh. A total of 94 MPs have wealth, including that of their dependents, worth more than Tk five crore each, while 12 others have wealth worth less than Tk five lakh. Out of 300 Mps elected directly, 258 pay income taxes, said SUJAN chief.
