Returns of polls cost to be audited by CA firms
Friday, 24 April 2009
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda Thursday said some sections of the Representation of People Order (RPO) might be amended again, if necessary for ensuring transparency in the polls, reports UNB.
"If necessary we'll amend the RPO, but we've to look into the matters which need amendments," he told reporters at the Election Commission (EC) Thursday afternoon.
The CEC also informed that the returns of election expenditure, submitted by the candidates, would be audited by employing chartered accountant (CA) farms. "We've already started negotiation with firms."
Dr Huda said the commission would give a guideline for auditing the returns of the candidates.
The CEC was asked to comment on the TIB's recommendation to amend the RPO for bringing about consistency in the rules with the law regarding submission of the candidates' election expenses.
A four-member delegation of Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB), led by Hafizuddin Khan, met CEC and submitted a set of recommendations for ensuring transparency in election expenditure of the candidates.
Hafizuddin Khan after meeting the CEC told reporters that the commission should pay more attention to the returns of the candidates' expenditures, as many of those are suspected to have concealed the real expenditure.
"We have told the commission that the EC should increase its observation in future on the returns of the candidates' election expenditures," he said.
About the Dhaka City Corporation election, planned in October or November, the TIB official told the CEC that aspirants in many areas have started their campaign, although the election schedule has not been announced. He thinks it should be stopped.
TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, "We've told the commission to bring consistency in the RPO rules with the relevant laws on candidates' election expenditure."
"If necessary we'll amend the RPO, but we've to look into the matters which need amendments," he told reporters at the Election Commission (EC) Thursday afternoon.
The CEC also informed that the returns of election expenditure, submitted by the candidates, would be audited by employing chartered accountant (CA) farms. "We've already started negotiation with firms."
Dr Huda said the commission would give a guideline for auditing the returns of the candidates.
The CEC was asked to comment on the TIB's recommendation to amend the RPO for bringing about consistency in the rules with the law regarding submission of the candidates' election expenses.
A four-member delegation of Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB), led by Hafizuddin Khan, met CEC and submitted a set of recommendations for ensuring transparency in election expenditure of the candidates.
Hafizuddin Khan after meeting the CEC told reporters that the commission should pay more attention to the returns of the candidates' expenditures, as many of those are suspected to have concealed the real expenditure.
"We have told the commission that the EC should increase its observation in future on the returns of the candidates' election expenditures," he said.
About the Dhaka City Corporation election, planned in October or November, the TIB official told the CEC that aspirants in many areas have started their campaign, although the election schedule has not been announced. He thinks it should be stopped.
TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, "We've told the commission to bring consistency in the RPO rules with the relevant laws on candidates' election expenditure."