The government has proposed an allocation of Tk 4,400 crore for the Election Commission Secretariat in the FY2026-27 budget, with a significant portion expected to be spent on upcoming local government elections across the
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury placed the Tk9.38 lakh crore national budget in Parliament on Thursday, outlining allocations across key sectors, including election management.
The EC had sought Tk5,500 crore to conduct a series of local government polls. However, the proposed allocation falls short at Tk4,400 crore, of which Tk3,643 crore is earmarked for operational costs and Tk757 crore for development expenditure, leaving a funding gap of BDT 1,100 crore compared to its demand.
In the previous 2025–26 fiscal year, the EC was initially allocated Tk Tk 2,956 crore, which was later revised upward to Tk4,346 crore.
The new proposal represents an increase of Tk 1,445 crore in initial allocation, or 48.88 per cent higher than the previous year’s original budget.
According to the commission’s election roadmap, local government polls are expected to begin in phases from October with Union Parishad elections.
At present, thousands of positions across five local government bodies are considered election-ready, including 4,581 Union Parishads, 61 Zila Parishads, 495 Upazila Parishads, 330 municipalities, and 13 city corporations.
Officials said the expanded allocation is intended to support the extensive nationwide election schedule planned throughout the fiscal year.
In the outgoing fiscal year, the EC received Tk3,150 crore for the 13th parliamentary election and related referendums, of which Tk 2,256 crore has been spent. Officials added that the remaining Tk894 crore will be returned to the state treasury.
EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the allocation is directly linked to the upcoming local government election cycle.
“Naturally, this year’s allocation is related to local government elections. The Commission will ensure the best possible use of the allocated funds,” he told reporters.
