Holding three key city corporation polls off the cuff has ballooned the Election Commission's budget for the current fiscal year, which the finance may cut down.
People familiar with the developments have told the FE that the cost of holding election to the three city corporations -- Dhaka South, Dhaka North and Chittagong -- has nearly doubled the poll budget to Tk 950 million for the current fiscal.
The spending is absolutely for holding polls, excluding regular administrative and development costs.
The finance division allocated Tk 500 million in the 2014-15 budget for holding different types of polls. The election commission, a constitutional body, has utilised the funds by holding by-elections and other polls.
The EC has now sought Tk 450 million in addition to the existing allocation to conduct the three important city polls.
But, according to the sources, the amount is considered to be higher as it is equivalent to 15 per cent of the fund spent on the national general election held in January 2014.
The EC spent Tk 3.0 billion to hold the 10th general election in 146 constituencies where balloting was necessitated, out of 300 elective seats of the Jatiya Sangsad.
However, sources at the finance division told the FE Thursday that they would disburse an additional amount to the tune of Tk 350 million instead of Tk 450 million.
Sources at the EC said there are two types of poll costs: direct election-related expenses and the other for maintaining law and order during and before the polls.
The main cost from EC's coffers goes for policing the polls.
The law-enforcement agencies -- police, RAB, Bangladesh Coast Guard, BGB and Ansar & VDP -- usually deploy their forces to maintain peaceful election environment.
The commission also spends a significant amount for payment of government, semi-government and autonomous body officers for poll-time duties.
However, the city-corporation elections in the capital city are being held after the lapse of 13 years as the voting last took place in 2002, when BNP-handpicked candidate Sadeque Hossain Khoka won the mayoral polls.
And this is the first election after the bifurcation of the capital into two administrative units in 2011.
The present government on 29 November 2011 dissolved the Dhaka City Corporation under provision of the Local Government (City Corporation) Amendment Bill 2011 passed by parliament by splitting the city into two corporations: North and South.
The southern wing, including the bustling older part of Dhaka, holds more territory than the north that comprises some high-society residential areas.
The government holds that bifurcation would ensure better quality of civic services to the city-dwellers.
On the other hand, the Chittagong City Corporation election is being held in time.
It was held last in 2010 when BNP candidate Monzur Alam had voted down his predecessor, Awami League candidate ABM Mohiudidn Chowdhury, beating him by 95,528 votes.
However, according to the election schedules, the three city corporations' elections will take place on April 28.
Nominations of 54 aspirants for the mayor in the three city corporations stand valid.
Besides, some 1,800 submitted nomination papers for ward councillors and reserved seats for women.
The EC's total annual budget, consisting of both development and non-development counts, is usually fixed over Tk 5.5 billion.
The Constitution of Bangladesh provides for setting up an EC for the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for election to the office of President and to Parliament, and the conduct of such elections in accordance with the constitution.
According to the constitution, the EC is independent in the exercise of its functions and subject only to the constitution and applicable laws. Bangladesh EC is constitutionally responsible for the conduct of elections in a free and fair manner.
Apart from holding the elections, the EC prepares electoral rolls for the purpose of elections to parliament and local- government bodies.
It prepares and distributes National Identity Card (NIC), does registration of political parties and reservation and allocation of symbols for the registered parties and candidates.
Jasimharoon@yahoo.com
Finance won’t pay what EC seeks
Jasim Uddin Haroon | Published: April 04, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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