Rangpur city polls 'already rigged'

Civil society platform Shujan's Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, conveying the belief of a cross-section of voters in the area, says the outcome of upcoming Rangpur City Corporation election "has already been rigged".
Observing that there was no enthusiasm or excitement about the city polls, he said, "It occurs to many of the voters that the election has already been rigged or fixed and the poll result has already been predetermined. The voters also know who will be elected."
Rangpur City Corporation election is slated for December 27.
Dr Majumdar came up with the observations at a virtual press conference organised by Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) on Saturday, to analyse the affidavits of the candidates for the city polls.
Shujan's central coordinator Dilip Kumar Sarkar read out a statement at the event where the platform called upon the Election Commission (EC) to exercise its full authority to hold free, impartial, inclusive, peaceful and competitive elections.
Expressing disappointment and casting doubt on the city polls being free, fair, competitive and impartial, Badiul Alam urged the EC to ensure disclosing the information of income tax returns of all candidates in every election as per the EC's election manual since 2020.
Dr Alam said the voters in the city election express little interest and there is lack of competitive environment too.
Majumdar said the EC has already issued 13 directions for the journalists to cover the upcoming the city polls.
Regarding it, he said, "It seems that journalists cannot run their professional duty independently rather strict restriction has been imposed upon them. It also seems they will just have to stand like statues while covering the election. The EC should seek cooperation from the media for free and fair election instead restricting them".
More than half the total 254 candidates for mayor, general councilors and councilors of reserved seats in the Rangpur City Corporation elections are engaged in business profession.
Besides, 23 people are involved in different jobs. Two candidates are lawyers.
However, compared to the 2017 Rangpur city election, the rate of candidates having business profession is slightly lower this time.
About 70 per cent of the candidates contesting the election have an income of less than 0.5 million.
Among them, former mayor and Jatiya Party candidate Mustafizar Rahman did not show his personal income in the affidavit. But he has shown the income of his dependents.
However, Mustafizar's wealth has increased by 106 per cent in the last five years.
Shujan raised question about Mustafizar not showing his own income, even though he (Mustafizar) has received the salary and allowances as the mayor during his tenure.
During his speech in the event, Professor Sekandar Khan, central executive member of Shujan and president of Shujan Chittagong chapter, said the election should be both participatory and competitive.
If this not happens, voters will no longer be interested in elections, he added.
Of the 254 candidates vying for the three types of post, 71 per cent possess wealth worth less than Tk0.5 million.
On the other hand, there are three candidates owning wealth worth over Tk 50 million.
According to Shujan's analysis, the participation of low-income candidates in the city election has decreased compared to the previous elections.
It considers non-disclosure of the income tax return statement of the candidates to be an act of concealment of information.
Sujan says that income tax-related information is not being submitted on the EC's website since 2020. As a result, it is impossible to analyse how much tax a candidate is paying or not.
According to the Rangpur city polls circular issued earlier, there is a provision to submit the copy of income tax return and receipt along with the nomination form.
But the section of the income tax has been removed from the EC's website.

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