The expense of the 12th parliamentary election is increasing from its primary budget of Tk 1,445 crore. This time voting officials will get an allowance for two days.

The election commission said the total cost of election conducting and maintaining law and order might cross Tk 1,600 crore. Besides, Tk 123 crore will be spent on election training. The total electoral cost will exceed Tk 1,700 crore. The election commission will finalize the electoral expense next week.

According to the planned schedule of the election commission, the next parliamentary election will be held in the last week of the current year or the first week of January 2024. The commission may announce the schedule of the election in early November. The election commission may keep several dates for holding polls to ensure the participation of all parties. It will announce the election schedule keeping 50-60 days in hand.

All necessary preparations except EVMs have already been completed to hold elections in 300 constituencies through ballot papers.

Election commission officials said the expense of the upcoming election is increasing from its primary budget of Tk 1,445 crore. Presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling officers will be given allowance for two days which was for one day earlier. Even the amount of allowance is increasing, they said. 

Election Commission Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath told Bangladesh Pratidin that the expenditure of the next parliamentary election is not finalized yet. They will finalize the cost of the polls next week.

Officials of the election commission said the voting centres of 12 crore voters, the number of voting officials and prices of electoral materials have increased alongside other sectors including fuel. More than 85 per cent work of election preparation has been completed. The procurement of maximum electoral materials has already been completed. These materials will be sent to the district level. Rest work will be completed in time.

The election commission procures 13 types of materials including ballot boxes, lid of ballot boxes, lock, seal, stamps, various types of bags, papers, pads and ropes for the parliament polls. It also provides training, and allowance to the concerned officials and procures necessary materials. The commission will also do many types of print and maintain the law enforcement agencies with a high budget.

Earlier, Ashok Kumar Debnath said, “Ongoing procurement is in the final stage. We have many materials including bags, seals, and ballot boxes. The procurement progress is more than 80-85 per cent. All pre-schedule works will be completed before the first week of November. We have to do some tasks after the announcement of the election schedule. We will also print ballot papers after the withdrawal of candidature.

As per the Constitution, the election commission will have to hold parliamentary polls before 90 days of January 29, 2024. The countdown of the 12th national election will be started on November 1.          

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on October 12, 2023 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.