Half of the 50 political parties that contested the 13th parliamentary election, including BNP and NCP, failed to submit their election expenditure reports within the stipulated deadline.
Wednesday was the final day for submitting party expenditure statements to the Election Commission (EC). However, only 25 parties submitted their reports within the deadline, according to the EC.
EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told TIMES of Bangladesh on Wednesday evening, “According to the information I have received so far, 25 political parties have not submitted their election expenditure reports. The rest have submitted them. I do not yet know whether BNP and NCP have submitted theirs.”
Asked what action would be taken against the parties that failed to comply within the deadline, he said, “The file will be placed before the commission tomorrow [Thursday], and the commission will take a decision.”
EC officials said many parties, including BNP and NCP, had yet to submit their reports. The commission usually extends the deadline every year after parties apply for more time. However, BNP and NCP have not yet sought any extension, they added.
According to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), contesting candidates must submit election expenditure reports within 30 days of the gazette publication, while political parties are required to do so within 90 days.
A total of 50 political parties participated in the 13th parliamentary election on 12 February.
The RPO also empowers the EC to issue a warning notice giving parties another 30 days if they fail to submit reports on time. After that, the commission may impose a Tk10,000 fine and allow a further 15 days. Failure to comply even within the extended period could lead to cancellation of the party’s registration.
Jatiya Party reports only Tk5 lakh in expenses
Despite fielding candidates in 196 constituencies, Jatiya Party reported total party expenditure of only Tk5.05 lakh in the 13th parliamentary election.
A three-member delegation led by party Presidium Member Rezaul Islam Bhuiyan submitted the expenditure statement signed by party Chairman GM Quader to the EC on Wednesday.
According to the report, the party spent Tk3.25 lakh on campaign activities, Tk1.15 lakh on public rallies and Tk65,000 on staff expenses.
Rezaul Islam Bhuiyan told journalists, “The party does not provide financial support to candidates. Candidates have always borne their own election expenses.”
Under the RPO, a political party fielding candidates in 101 to 200 constituencies may spend a maximum of Tk3 crore. That means the expenditure shown by Jatiya Party is less than one-sixtieth of the permitted ceiling.
Jamaat reports nearly Tk4.5 crore in expenses
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, meanwhile, reported total election expenditure of Tk4,49,47,972 in the 13th parliamentary election.
A Jamaat delegation submitted the party’s expenditure statement to EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Tuesday.
Party Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer told reporters, “The legal spending limit was around Tk4.5 crore, and our expenditure was within that limit. Of the total amount, Tk4 crore was provided to candidates as financial support.”
Jamaat fielded candidates in 227 constituencies in the election.
According to the expenditure statement, the party provided Tk4 crore in donations to 225 candidates. The report also included expenses related to campaign activities, rallies, travel, staff, accommodation and administration.
The party further included costs for designing and printing election manifestos, organising press conferences, transporting campaign materials, tours by central leaders and advertisements.
