Dhaka: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami expended over Tk 4.49 crore in the 13th parliamentary election, while Jatiya Party reported spending just Tk 5 lakh, based on official election expenditure statements submitted to the Election Commission (EC).
According to United News of Bangladesh, a total of 50 political parties participated in the February 12 election. However, only 25 parties have submitted their election expenditure statements to the EC as of Wednesday. The remaining parties, including the ruling BNP, are yet to submit their expense reports to the commission.
Jamaat provided its election expenditure statement, which was signed by Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, on Tuesday. The statement detailed a total expenditure of Tk 4,49,47,972 for the election. Of this amount, Tk 4 crore was distributed as donations to 225 candidates, averaging around Tk 1.78 lakh per candidate. Jamaat incurred costs for designing and printing election manifestos, organizing press conferences, hospitality, transportation of election materials, tours by central leaders, and advertising. Specific expenses included Tk 20,90,827 on election campaigning, Tk 8,700 on transport, Tk 14,17,599 on public rallies and tours, Tk 2,85,902 on staff expenses, and Tk 9,44,944 on accommodation and administrative costs. An additional Tk 2 lakh was reported under miscellaneous expenses.
In contrast, Jatiya Party submitted its expenditure report, signed by its chairman GM Qauder, on Wednesday. According to the statement from Jatiya Party Additional Secretary General Rezaul Islam Bhuiyan, the party spent only Tk 5 lakh during the election, despite fielding 196 candidates. The party did not allocate funds directly to candidates for campaign activities. Their campaign expenses amounted to Tk 3.25 lakh, while Tk 1.15 lakh was spent on public rallies and Tk 65,000 on staff expenses. The party informed the EC that all election-related expenditures were made through an account at Prime Bank PLC’s Banani branch, which currently holds a balance of Tk 38,500.
As per Article 44CC of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, a political party shall not spend more than Tk 4.5 crore on election expenses if fielding more than 200 candidates, Tk 3 crore for 101-200 candidates, Tk 1.5 crore for 51-100 candidates, and Tk 75 lakh for 1-50 candidates. Moreover, political parties nominating any candidate for election must submit an election expenditure statement within 90 days after the election to the Election Commission for scrutiny, as mandated by Article 44CCC of the same law.