Mayor aspirants in the forthcoming municipal elections are mostly businessmen by profession. Their academic qualifications range from ‘self-educated’ to PhD.
While those endorsed by the Awami League have no cases filed against them, most of the BNP-backed ones are accused in multiple lawsuits. The information was found in the affidavits submitted by the mayor hopefuls. Candidates for mayor, councillor and reserved (women) councillor posts have submitted the affidavits in 235 municipalities where polls are due on Dec 30. This is for the first time that local government polls are being held on party lines and but only mayor runners will be allocated party symbols.
Kurigram: In Nageshwari municipality, AL-backed mayor candidate Mohammad Hossain Faku has a bachelor’s degree, Tk 1.5 million loans and no cases filed against him. Among his rivals, Adam Ali and Abdul Wahab too have bachelor’s degrees, Abdul Aziz has a masters and Abdur Rahman Mia holds a Secondary School Certificate.
Khagrachhari: Abdul Malek, BNP-nominated mayor contender in Khagrachhari municipality, has a masters in law and is accused in two cases. His rival Shan-e-Alam, backed by the AL, is a transport businessman, has a bank loans worth Tk 2 million and has studied up to the SSC.
In Matiranga, AL’s Shamsul Haque has a Higher Secondary Certificate and faces no cases at the moment unlike BNP candidate Badsha Mia who is accused in two cases and has ‘literate’ written in place of his academic qualification.
Khulna: With a bachelor’s degree in science, AL’s mayor hopeful Sanat Kumar Biswas in Chalna municipality runs an oil and turmeric business and has Tk 400,000 loans. BNP-backed Sheikh Abdul Mannan is a businessman and has a bachelor’s in commerce. Achintya Kumar Mandal, the other contender there, has a PhD and teaches at a private college. In Paikgachha municipality, fish farmer Selim Jahangir is contesting the elections the ruling party ticket. Banks owe him Tk 2.5 million and he has an HSC.
Rangpur: A businessman, AL’s Abdullah Al Mamun has a bachelor’s while BNP-backed Moshiur Rahman, a transport businessman, has a master’s in science.
Chittagong: In Chandnaish, AL favourite Mahbub Alam has a BA and Tk 950,000 debts. Alhajj Jashim Uddin Ahmed is ‘self-educated’, Abdul Hakim has an MA and fish farmer Md Ayub has studied up to the HSC. In Potia, businessman Harunur Rashid has an MA. He has been nominated by the ruling AL while the BNP-backed candidate, Towhidul Alam, is a businessman and has mentioned ‘not applicable’ in place of his educational qualification. AL candidate Selimul Haue Chowdhury in Banshkhali has an HSC and is a former private service holder. A businessman with Tk 200,000 debts, BNP’s Kamrul Islam Hossaini has a bachelor’s. In Rangunia, businessman Sajahan Sikder of the AL has a BA while his rival Helal Uddin Shah, from the BNP camp, has studied up to SSC and is accused in a case. In Sandwip, AL’s Zafar Ullah has an HSC and has written ‘farming’ beside his profession. Azmat Ali of the BNP has a bachelor’s in social science and three cases filed against him. AL-nominated Mohammad Zobayer, a businessman, has a master’s while BNP’s Rafiqul Alam is ‘self-educated’ and a businessman with Tk 7 million debts.
Comilla: With four arrest warrants against him, Golam Md Rabbani has been denied candidacy in Chouddagram. AL candidate Mizanur Rahman runs businesses and has a bachelor’s degree. Another mayor aspirant Mohammad Imam Hossain Patwary has completed SSC and owns two minibuses. In Barura, Abul Kalam Azad has an SSC, Ajit Kumar Datta studied up to Class-10 and Nazrul Islam up to Class-6 while Arif Hossain Bhuiyan has a bachelor’s in social science. AL-backed Abul Khair in Laksam is a private college teacher and has mentioned that he has Tk 6.75 million in debts. Golam Faruk is ‘self-educated’. Nur Mohammad runs a car repairing business and has Tk 2 million debts. Shahnaz Akter is a homemaker with a bachelor’s degree.
