BNP earnings skyrocket during year of uprising

The party's income sees a 1,313 percent increase from the year before

BNP supporters carrying party flags at a rally in Dhaka's Naya Paltan. Photo: Tawhiduzzaman Tapu

The BNP has seen a marked surge in income during the year of the July Uprising, with the party recording its highest earnings in years.

On Sunday, a BNP delegation led by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi submitted the party's financial statement for the 2024 calendar year to Election Commission Secretary Akhter Ahmed.

The information provided by Rizvi showed that the BNP earned Tk 156.5 million in 2024 -- a staggering 1,313 percent increase from the previous year which is 41 percent more than the previous year's earnings.

Although the party boycotted the January 2024 election, its expenditure increased to about Tk 48 million. It reported a current balance of around Tk 108.6 million in party funds.

In comparison, in 2023, the BNP reported an income of about Tk 11.1 million, while expenditure totalled roughly Tk 36.5 million.

In response to a question, Rizvi said that the earnings came from monthly membership fees, book and publication sales, bank interest and one-time donations.

The expenses were incurred on personal assistance, disaster relief assistance, programme implementation, and the printing of campaign materials such as leaflets and posters.

BNP Yearly Income and Expenditure
Year	Income	Expenditure
2024	Tk 156.59 million	Tk 48 million
2023	Tk 11.08 million	Tk 36.52 million
2022	Tk 59.20 million	Tk 38.83 million
2021	Tk 8.41 million	Tk 19.85 million
2020	Tk 12.25 million	Tk 17.45 million
2019	Tk 8.75 million	Tk 26.69 million
2018	Tk 98.66 million	Tk 37.33 million
2017	Tk 94.62 million	Tk 41.94 million
2016	Tk 41.37 million	Tk 39.96 million
2015	Tk 17.30 million	Tk 18.73 million
2014	Tk 28.75 million	Tk 35.30 million
2013	Tk 7.61 million	Tk 22.73 million

Under the Representation of the People Order (RPO), all registered political parties are required to submit their audited financial reports for the previous calendar year by July each year.

The EC has asked 50 political parties, except the suspended Awami League, to submit audit reports. Electoral law stipulates the cancellation of a party registration if it fails to submit income and expenditure reports for three consecutive years.