The number of businesspeople contesting the upazila polls has gone up, said a report released by Transparency International Bangladesh yesterday.

The report, launched at a press conference at TIB's Dhanmondi office, said candidates from farming and teaching professions have decreased.

The report is based on an analysis of the affidavits of those running in the third phase of the upazila elections.

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According to the report, around 51.14 percent of contenders in the 2014 upazila polls were businesspeople. In 2024, around 58.14 percent of the contestants are involved in business, a seven-percentage point increase from 2014.

In 2014, around 8.75 percent of candidates were teachers and 13.40 percent farmers. In this year's upazila elections, 10 percent are farmers and 3.95 percent teachers.

Of the 1,419 candidates taking part in the third phase of the upazila polls, 67 percent of chairman, 69 percent of vice-chairman candidates and 32 percent of aspirants vying for vice-chairman posts reserved for women are involved in business.

Addressing the event, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said dominance of businesspeople in politics has become "serious". The big question is whether they are coming to politics through fair process or to make profits.

A total of 109 upazilas were set to go to polls tomorrow, but the Election Commission yesterday suspended elections to 19 upazilas due to cyclone Remal.

TIB report shows that 106 candidates have wealth worth at least Tk 1 crore. Of them, 90 are running for chairman, 11 vice-chairman, and five vice-chairman for reserved posts for women.

According to the TIB, the value of candidates' moveable assets determines whether they are a billionaire. Immovable assets, like real estate, are not taken into consideration.

Ferdousi Islam, chairman aspirant of Shibpur upazila in Narsingdi, tops the list of candidates in terms of the amount of movable assets, Tk 174 crore, the TIB report said.

TIB said according to the law, an individual can acquire a maximum of 33 acres of land. At least six aspirants were found to have land beyond the limit.

Owning 280 acres, Dewan Ashis Rai Chowdhury, chairman contender of Sunamnagj's Dowarabazar upazila, is on top.

Compared to the 2019 upazila parishad elections, income of incumbent chairman Nurul Alam, who is also contesting Teknaf upazila polls in Cox Bazar, saw the highest growth of wealth,10,422 percent increase, over the last five years.

Incomes of five more candidates rose by over 1,000 percent.

Immovable properties of Tangail's Delduar upazila chairman candidate Mahmudul Hasan increased by 9,850 percent since the 2019 elections.

Immovable properties of nine more aspirants went up by over 1,685 percent.

Apart from this, Shibpur upazila chairman aspirant Ferdousi Islam is the most indebted candidate, with a loan of Tk 185 crore.

Besides, 227 candidates of the third phase stand accused in various cases and 307 had been accused in cases in the past.

Regarding the unusual rise in incomes and assets, the TIB executive director said the increase in income and assets is usually expected. But if these go up abnormally, then it may raise questions.

He called on the Election Commission, National Board of Revenue, and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate whether the declared incomes and properties of candidates are consistent with their legitimate incomes and to check potential tax evasion.