EC wants Tk 1.08 billion allocated to it in the new budget

The Election Commission wants an allocation of over Tk 1 billion in the next budget to hold upcoming polls.

EC Senior Assistant Secretary Enamul Haque on Wednesday said the panel has written to the finance minister, seeking the funds.
 
Finance Minister AMA Muhith will place the national budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year in Parliament on Thursday.
He has said the size of the proposed budget would be move than Tk 3.40 trillion.
 
The term of the five-member commission led by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad ends in February next year.
 
Before that, the present EC will hold elections to the Narayanganj and Comilla city corporations, over 500 expired Union Parishads, and several by-polls.
 
Haque said they plan to allocate approximately around Tk 100 million for the polls to the two city corporations, Tk 750 million for the UPs and Tk 230 million for the by-polls.
 
“That’s why we have sought nearly Tk 1.08 billion in the proposed budget. We’ll try to made adjustments if we need more in future apart from this.”
 
Besides holding polls, the EC’s financial plans regarding other aspects will be known after the new budget is presented in Parliament.
 
EC officials said the Commission’s major engagements in the new fiscal year would be the updating of the voters’ list, the holding of polls to the city corporations, municipalities and the Ups, and introduction of Electronic Voting Machines among other things.