53 face over 350 criminal cases

Fifty three BNP-backed councilor candidates of Dhaka South and North city corporations' elections are facing more than 350 criminal cases, while only seven Awami League (AL)-blessed contestants face 12 cases as per the affidavits submitted to the Election Commission (EC) by the candidates, reports UNB.

This was found analysing affidavits of 79 BNP-supported and 88 AL-backed general councillor contenders which are available on the EC website.

Among the BNP-blessed general councillor candidates, nine are accused in more than 10 cases.

Anwaruzzaman, a BNP-supported councillor candidate of Ward No 27 of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is facing the highest 47 cases, while Lokman Hossain Fakir of Ward No 13 of DSCC is an accused in the second-highest 45 cases now.

Besides, BNP-blessed councillor candidate Harunur Rashid of Ward No 10 of DSCC is an accused in 25 cases, while Ariful Islam Arif of Ward No 19 of DSCC in 21 cases, Sheikh Amir Hossain of Ward No 35 of DNCC in 17 cases, Shamsul Huda Kajol of Ward No 7 of DSCC in 16 cases, Kazi Ali Imam Asad of Ward No 3 of DNCC in 15 cases, Atikullah Atik of Ward No 48 of DSCC in 14 cases and Golam Hossain of Ward No 4 of DSCC in 10 cases.

In the past, there were cases against 23 AL-backed and 14 BNP-supported councillor runners. On Friday, BNP lent its support to 83 councillor candidates, but affidavits of four were not available on the EC's website.