Upazila polls cost to hit new high
Moinul Hoque Chowdhury,
Published: 29 Mar 2014 02:06 AM BdST Updated: 29 Mar 2014 02:06 AM BdST
-
File Photo
Spending on the ongoing fourth Upazila elections is going to exceed the combined expenses of the previous local government body polls and the last parliamentary elections.
Voting is being held in six phases for the first time in Bangladesh’s history.
Four rounds of voting so far and the next phase, slated for Mar 31, together will cost around Tk 3.5 billion, which is two and a half times the cost of third Upazila elections held five years back.
According to the Election Commission’s budget wing, polls management will account for Tk 1.45 billion and law and order arrangements Tk 1.97 billion of the total expenses of the staggered balloting.
Voting is being held at polling centres where elections were suspended in the previous phases due to major violence and irregularities.
The EC plans to hold the last leg of balloting in the first week of May.
It estimates the expenditure of voting at the suspended centres and the sixth phase ballot will tally the total expenses to three times the cost of third Upazila elections.
EC Deputy Secretary (budget) Shajahan Khan attributed the rise in expenditure to holding of the elections in six phases, increases in allowances of election officials and prices of voting materials.
The Upazila polls began on Feb 19. Voting at 385 of 487 Upazilas has been held in the first four rounds and the fifth phase at 74 bodies will be held on Mar 31.
Khan said election expenses were being disbursed in phases before adding that the total expenditure of the polls might reach Tk 3.5 billion.
Tk 1.33 billion was spent in the third Upazila Parishad polls held on Jan 22, 2009.
Law Minister Anisul Huq told Parliament recently that the 10th national elections conducted on Jan 5 this year cost over Tk 2.64 billion.
-
Govt clears path to release HSC results
-
Govt reports 515 new virus cases, 14 deaths
-
481,029 unfit vehicles in Bangladesh
-
First navy chief Nurul Huq dies
-
Kushtia situation must be terrible: HC
-
Two Bangladeshies win Padma Shri award
-
PK Halder, 32 others face embezzlement charges
-
Book fair to open in March: official
-
Man dies in clashes over Chattogram city polls
-
New warning system in Bangladesh to tackle rising landslide risk
-
Govt authorises education boards to publish HSC results
-
Bangladesh reports 515 new virus cases, 14 deaths
-
Over 481,000 unfit vehicles in Bangladesh: Obaidul Quader
-
Captain Nurul Huq, first chief of Bangladesh Navy, dies at 86
Most Read
- How to register for coronavirus vaccine in Bangladesh
- Bangladesh plans to launch COVID vaccine registration app on Jan 27
- Bangladesh ready to roll out Oxford COVID vaccines after long wait
- WHO issues new clinical advice on treating COVID-19 patients
- Bangladesh agricultural researchers blame government failure to control syndicates for price spikes
- Man dies in clashes over Chattogram city polls
- Bangladesh plans to reopen schools in Feb
- Germany fears AstraZeneca vaccine won't get EU approval for those over 65: Bild
- Captain Nurul Huq, first chief of Bangladesh Navy, dies at 86
- India to honour Sanjeeda Khatun, Sajjad Ali Zahir with Padma Shri award