EC to watch expenditures of political parties, candidates

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Naim-Ul-Karim
The Election Commission (EC) will begin watching intensely the financial expenditures of political parties and candidates, going to vie in the 9th parliamentary election, from the nomination withdrawal date, a top official of the Commission said Saturday.
The Commission has already completed ground-level preparations to ensure monitoring whether any stakeholder is overlooking the code of conduct or not, Election Commissioner Brigadier General Muhammad Sakhawat Hussain (retd) told the FE.
He said: "We have instruction to officials on ground to get ready for intense monitoring." "Our officials will keep watch intensely on all visible expenditures of the candidates from the date of nomination withdrawal," he added.
The last date for withdrawal of nomination has been set on December 01, 2008 in line with the existing polling date on December 18.
Mr. Hussain said two magistrates in each constituency have been assigned to watch the code of conduct-related issues particularly financial expenditures by political parties and candidates.
The EC in the first week of the current month announced expenditure limit for candidates for campaigning in the parliamentary election, setting the ceiling of expenditure at maximum Tk1.5 million for each contestant.
Each candidate will be allowed to spend Tk 5.0 for each voter, it said, adding a candidate will be allowed to spend up to Tk 1.5 million if the number of voters in a constituency crosses three hundred thousand.
"As per the sub-clause of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) the Election Commission has fixed Tk 5.0 to be spent by candidates for each voter in the parliamentary elections," the Commission said.
In previous parliamentary elections, candidates from major political parties had spent huge amounts of money in a bid to influence voters, officials said.
They, however, expressed the hope that the amended RPO would help prevent the candidates as well as political parties from doing the same practice again in the election still slated for December 18.
They also expressed the hope that the new rules would curb the use of both black money and muscle power in the upcoming election.
Under the fresh approved Ordinance, registered political parties can receive donation from person, company or group of companies. The ceiling of donation, property or services from person should not exceed Tk 0.5 million, and Tk 2.5 million from group of companies. No registered political party can take gift or donation or grant from any other country, NGO assisted by foreign aid and non-Bangladeshis.
The proposed amendment provides for a maximum of Tk 45 million election expenses of a political party that puts up 200 candidates or more. The maximum expenditure has been set at Tk 30 million for a party that sets 100 or less than 200 candidates, Tk 15 million for a party setting more than 50 candidates and Tk 7.5 million for a party having less than 50 candidates.
"Every thing will come under monitoring to ensure a free and fair election," Mr. Hussain said.
He further said: "In case of finding any wrong doing by any candidate they (magistrates) will inform the returning officer for next course of action in line with set rules and regulations of the Commission."