Narayanganj: Seven candidates, among 201 mayoral and councillor candidates in the Narayanganj City Corporation election, are accused in murder cases now, while nine were accused in murder cases in the past, according to a Shujan analysis.

Besides, now 46 contenders are accused in various criminal cases while 48 were accused in criminal cases in the past.

Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), a non-government organisation, came up with the statistics on Sunday analysing the affidavits of the 201 candidates --seven mayoral candidates, 156 general councillor and 38 woman councillor candidates from reserved seats- who are running in the NCC election slated for December 22.

Shujan Central Coordinator Dilip Kumar presented the analysis at a press conference in Narayanganj Press Club on Sunday.

Among the seven mayoral runners, Md Shakhawat Hossain Khan (BNP candidate) and Advocate Mahbubur Rahman are accused in criminal cases now. Shakhawat and Mahbub were accused in two and four cases respectively.

However, five other mayoral candidates are not accused in any criminal case now and were not in the past as well.

Some 80 percent of the candidates are businessmen, while the academic qualification of 60 percent is below SSC, according to their affidavits submitted to the Election Commission.

According to the Shujan’s analysis, 80.09 percent (161 candidates) businessmen by profession, while 7.96 percent (16) housewives, 3.98 percent (8) working people, 1.49 percent (3) farmers and 1.49 percent (3) lawyers. But four candidates mentioned other professions, while 6 contenders did not mention their profession in the affidavits.

Among 156 general councillor candidates, 90.38 percent (141 persons) are businesspeople.

Educational qualification of 120 candidates (59.70 percent) is below SSC, while 24 contestants completed SSC, each 23 completed HSC and graduation and only 7 contenders passed post-graduation. But four candidates did not mention their academic qualification in their affidavits.

Among the seven mayoral candidates, the educational qualification of one person is below SSC, while one completed SSC, two acquired graduation and three post-graduation.

The annual income of 136 candidates is between Tk two lakh and Tk five lakh, while that of 31 others above Tk 5 lakh but less than Tk 25 lakh, and 23 candidates less than Tk two lakh.

Besides, the annual income of one candidate (general councillor) is above Tk 50 lakh, while that of one is above Tk 25 lakh but less than Tk 50 lakh.

Among the mayoral runners, AL candidate Dr Salina Hayat Ivy’s annual income is Tk 11.34 lakh, while her rival BNP candidate Shakhawat Hossain Khan’s Tk 8.69 lakh.

Shujan Narayanganj district committee’s president Abdur Rahman and its general secretary Dhiman Saha Jewel were present at the press conference.