"Under the direct control of this Bhaban, a centre-to-grassroots network of beneficiaries has been created. Through them ADP [Annual Development Programme] funds and special allocations are being doled out," claimed 11-party coordinator Dilip Barua in the introductory paper of a roundtable at Jatiya Press Club.

"This network of corruption is set to drown the upcoming election in an extreme filth of money power," said Dilip, also general secretary of Samyabadi Dal, on behalf of the 11-party alliance, a major component of the Awami League -led 14-party opposition combine.

The game of money is already evident in the huge expenditures for holding grassroots-level delegation meetings, conferences and public rallies, he told the roundtable titled 'Politics and Election of Black Money, Terrorism, Communalism, Criminalisation, and Corruption' organised by the 11-party yesterday afternoon.

Supplying motorbikes to election workers, setting up clubs and such bodies, and exhibition of wealth have already begun, Dilip said. "The practice of trading nomination has also become a tradition. The aspirant election candidates have already started campaign rehearsals, which has already polluted the electoral environment," he added.

According to the 11-party paper, "Alongside the game of money, criminals are also vying for candidatures.... Many of them have been sentenced to five to 10 years' imprisonment. They are becoming qualified for election candidatures by filing appeals with the Supreme Court."

The latest example of such candidature is that of Nurul Islam Sarker, sentenced to death for killing AL lawmaker Ahsanullah Master, in Tongi Municipal Election and securing second highest number of votes, it pointed out.

The culprits who introduced the use of money power, communalism and corruption in politics should be identified and boycotted by the polity and the society, remarked 14-party coordinator and AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil at the roundtable.

He said, "Parliament has now turned into an investment centre for businessmen. They invest money to come to power, and once in power start recovering that money with profit."

AL Presidium member Tofail Ahmed said the masses are going through insecurity and misery due to the price spiral of essentials, while the ruling party men are busy pocketing black money.

He accused the ruling BNP of turning the Election Commission (EC) into its accomplice, adding the BNP in collusion of its communal allies is also linked with the killings of judges and journalists.

Gono Forum Presidium Member Pankaj Bhattacharya demanded asset declaration by all political leaders, and said the 14-party leaders should unilaterally declare their assets before the election.

Gono Azadi League President Abdus Samad observed said money power has driven away the honest and patriots from politics, and black-money owners have taken over cashing in on poverty and illiteracy of the people.

Badiul Alam Majumder, country director of the Hunger Project, said reforms in the EC and the caretaker government system would not be effective unless reforms are made within the political parties on a priority basis.

The parties should never consider money power in nominating election candidates and must exercise democratic norms within themselves, he noted.

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon and central leader Bimal Biswas, National Awami Party Joint General Secretary Shafiqur Rahman former general secretary Mujibul Haque, and eminent journalist Ataus Samad also spoke at the discussion moderated by Gonotontri Party President Nurul Islam.