Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman has alleged that the Election Commission has become hostage to business interests. Speaking at a press conference at TIB’s Dhanmondi headquarters in Dhaka on Thursday, he said many affidavits submitted by candidates for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election were opaque. He noted that no Islamist party nominated female candidates, and a major party denied nomination to a prominent woman because another party’s candidate was already contesting in that seat.

According to TIB’s analysis, 21 candidates earn income from foreign sources, 25 declared movable assets and bank accounts abroad, and 17 reported ownership of immovable property outside Bangladesh. The organization said these figures show that money and business dominate politics. TIB also found that two candidates who claimed to have renounced foreign citizenship still hold British nationality, and one candidate failed to disclose a UK property worth 210 crore taka purchased under a dependent’s name.

TIB reported that 87 percent of candidates are party-nominated, 13 percent independent, and 48 percent are businessmen. The highest declared wealth belongs to BNP’s Mohammad Aminul Islam with assets worth 619 crore taka.