Voter list update cost to rise

The cost of updating the voter list this time is expected to be around Tk 590 million, which is Tk 210 million more than the last time, according to Election Commission (EC) officials. Over 60,000 people will be involved in the three-stage exercise, starting May 15. This time, three sectors – voter enlistment, information collection and training – are expected to get the lion’s share of the budget. In 2012, the voter list update cost around Tk 380 million. EC officials say they will propose allocations for various new sectors this time. Deputy Secretary Sajahan Khan of EC’s budget section said the Commission’s national identity card registration department has proposed a Tk 590 million for updating the voter list with photos. The EC will fix the budget taking into account all aspects, he said. An official said the proposed budget earmarked over Tk 54.2 million for training of those involved with the update work, Tk 137.3 million for collecting information, and around Tk 253 million for updating the voter list with photos. The 2008 voter list prepared before the ninth national polls had over 81 million voters. The number increased by around seven million when the list was updated four years later. Bangladesh currently has over 92 million voters. Around 4.6 million new voters are expected to be included in the updated list, according to bdnews24.com.