Dhaka Tribune’s scrutiny of Election Commission filings highlights how 19 full ministers and 16 deputies marked ‘business’ as their trade. Lawyers trail as the second prominent profession, with a few boasting dual careers. Politics stands as the primary calling for just Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haq Milan—veterans of the political arena nonetheless.

February 17 marked a milestone with 25 ministers oath-taking at Dhaka’s National Parliament, incorporating technocrat slots. Yet, this corporate tilt has alarm bells ringing.

TIB’s Iftekharuzzaman didn’t mince words: Ministers must steer clear of decisions favoring their businesses, or risk turning public office into private profit machines. ‘Such lapses erode fair markets, hitting citizens hardest,’ he emphasized in quotes carried by Dhaka Tribune.

The business surge permeates parliament too. Of 300 MPs, 174 (59%) are business affiliates, 15 tied to garments. BNP’s 209-seat haul includes 145 business MPs; Jamaat-e-Islami’s 68 seats feature 20 such profiles.

TIB’s fresh study, unveiled by researcher Mohammad Touhidul Islam, paints a vivid picture: 236 MPs (79.46%) are millionaires, 13 billionaires among them. BNP leads with 189 rich lawmakers (90.87%), Jamaat trailing at 38 (55.07%). As Bonik Barta reports, this affluent, business-centric assembly could redefine policy-making, blending boardroom savvy with legislative power—or invite ethical pitfalls.

Khera further elaborated on the environmental and financial implications, stating that producing one liter of ethanol consumes 3,000 liters of water. He claimed that Gadkari’s sons are benefiting financially from the policy, with Nikhil Gadkari’s revenue surging from 18 crore to 523 crore in a year. He also pointed out that the use of ethanol is damaging vehicle engines and not benefiting farmers, who are being forced to sell their sugarcane and grains at low prices. Khera also criticized the environmental damage caused by ethanol production.