Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN) today (January 4) claimed that around 93.83 percent of Awami League candidates in the 12th parliamentary election are billionaires.

The average annual income of the party's 265 candidates is Tk 2.14 crore and the average value of each asset is more than Tk 28.5 crore. And 170 candidates, out of the total 265, are businessmen.

SHUJAN, a nonprofit private organisation disclosed the data in a virtual press conference on Thursday.

The organization claimed to have acquired the information by analyzing the affidavit data of the candidates participating in the upcoming national election scheduled for January 7.

While addressing the press conference, Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of the civil rights organisation, said since 2008, it has been seen that the elections were competitive and there was less income inequality among the candidates.

The disparity intensifies in one-sided elections, where a less prominent candidate can secure victory merely by being nominated, he said adding, “The magic stick is associated with the power.”

BDST: 2009 HRS, JAN 04, 2024
MSK