A total of 3,407 aspirants collected nomination papers after the schedule for the 13th national election and the July Charter referendum was announced. Of them, 2,582 candidates have submitted nomination papers to contest 300 parliamentary seats. This will be the first national election after the mass uprising that toppled the previous regime. Once again, the country has entered a familiar season of promises, posters, processions and political bargaining. For ordinary citizens, elections should be a time of hope. Yet, for many, they have become a reminder of how little changes after the votes are counted. At the heart of this disappointment lies a hard truth: in Bangladesh, politics has stopped being a service and has turned into a business.
As a political career has become highly profitable and full of material rewards, more and more people are drawn to it, and new parties continue to emerge. In healthy democracies, politics is about serving citizens. Members of parliament are elected to make laws, represent people, and hold the government accountable. In Bangladesh, however, many MPs have been historically more involved in financial and executive matters than in lawmaking. They influence which development projects are approved, who receives government contracts, and who is appointed to key local posts. Tenders, land deals, and public works often move forward not on merit, but on political connections. As a result, an MP seat has become one of the most attractive business opportunities in the country.
In Bangladesh’s 54-year political history, many candidates have entered parliament with modest assets, only to leave office with vast wealth, multiple properties and business interests. Studies by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) have shown that a large number of MPs report sharp increases in wealth during their time in office, often without clear or believable sources of income. Over the years, newspapers have routinely reported how MPs act as informal authorities over procurement committees, land allocation and even local policing decisions. This mixing of political power with financial control has turned parliamentary seats into high-return investments.
The problem begins even before election day. Election campaigns are extremely expensive, far beyond legal limits. Candidates borrow heavily, invest their own funds, or depend on wealthy backers. Once elected, they feel pressure to recover their investment by using access to public resources. Development projects, instead of being chosen based on need or technical value, become tools for making money. Bureaucrats, contractors and local power brokers become part of this system, creating a cycle where corruption becomes normal.
As the next election approaches, if the deep link between politics and money stays firmly in place, it will have serious consequences. MPs who benefit from government contracts cannot properly question ministers. Parliamentary sessions become weak, poorly attended and unproductive. Laws are passed with little debate, while real decisions are made outside parliament. At the same time, local government institutions remain weak because MPs dominate roles that should belong to elected local bodies and professional administrators.
If Bangladesh is serious about change, reform must begin by redefining the role of MPs, who should have no authority over development projects, tenders, recruitment or administrative postings. Their responsibility should be limited to making laws, reviewing policies, debating the budget, and holding the government accountable. Local development should be handled by strong and transparent local governments that answer to citizens.
Political financing also needs urgent reform. Without controlling election spending, corruption cannot be reduced. There must be realistic spending limits, full disclosure of campaign funds, independent audits, and strict punishment for violations. The Election Commission must enforce such laws. An election that is expensive by nature will always produce leaders who see politics as an investment.
Asset declaration is another critical issue. Candidates and MPs already submit wealth statements, but those are rarely well-checked. Asset declarations should be independently verified both before and after a term in office. Any sudden or unexplained increase in wealth should automatically trigger an investigation. The privileges linked to political office also need review. MPs receive cars, allowances, housing and pensions that are far removed from the lives of ordinary citizens. At a time when people struggle with rising prices, unemployment and poor public services, such benefits send the wrong message. Politics should not promise comfort. It should demand sacrifice and responsibility.
Making politics unprofitable will not be easy. Those who benefit from the current system will strongly resist change. But the cost of inaction is far greater. Inequality will deepen, institutions will weaken further, and public trust will collapse. This election gives Bangladesh a chance to reflect and reset. If we are serious about fighting corruption and restoring trust in democratic institutions, we must remove money from politics and politicians from money. Only then can the parliament reclaim its rightful role as the guardian of people’s interests.
Abu Afsarul Haider
is an entrepreneur. He can be reached at [email protected].
Views expressed in this article are the author's own.
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