The dominance of businesspeople is prevalent in the second phase of sixth Upazila Elections too, with 71 per cent chairman candidate belonging  to the business community.

Among the chairman candidates, 105 are millionaires and the number of millionaire aspirants has tripled in the sixth phase polls compared to the fifth Upazila Elections.

Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Sunday revealed the information at a press conference held at TIB office at Dhanmondi after analysing the affidavits submitted to the Election Commission ahead of second phase upazila polls.

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Apart from the chairman aspirants, 8 vice-chairman candidates , three candidates for vice-chairman posts reserved for women are millionaire.

In the second phase, elections to 160 upazila parishads are scheduled to be held on May 21.

TIB has obtained affidavit information of candidates of 157 upazilas from the Election Commission.

In the 157 upazilas, 599 are contesting for chairman post while 689 for vice-chairman and 523 for vice-chairman posts reserved for women.

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According to TIB, 70.51 per cent chairman candidates in the second phase upazila parishad election mentioned themselves as businesspeople while second highest 12.17 introduced themselves as farmer.

Besides, lawyers (4.17 per cent) and teachers (4.17 per cent) are  in third and fourth positions respectively.

Moreover, 68.73 per cent vice-chairman aspirants introduced themselves as businessman and 52 per cent candidates for vice-chairman posts reserved for women have addressed themselves as housewife while 29 per cent as businesspeople, the TIB said.

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TIB said like the Jatiya Sangsad election, candidates from the business community are dominating local body election and this domination is on the rise.