TIB says 33.8% of candidates exceed spending limits, average cost hits Tk1.2cr
Despite directives from the Election Commission instructing candidates to remove campaign materials, 81.3% failed to comply, TIB says.
Highlights
- Candidates permitted to spend Tk25 lakh or Tk10 per voter, whichever is higher
- One in three candidates exceeded the legal campaign spending
- Average expenditure reaches Tk1.19 crore between 4 Dec 2025 and 1 Feb 2026
- Significant spending occurred even before official campaign period begins
One in three electoral candidates exceeded the legally permitted campaign expenditure limit even before the official campaign period concluded, spending an average of Tk1.19 crore, according to a study unveiled by Transparency International Bangladesh today (8 February).
The findings were presented at a press conference held at the TIB auditorium, highlighting what the organisation described as widespread violations of electoral laws and regulations.
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According to the study, 33.8% of candidates exceeded the expenditure ceiling, spending an average of Tk1,19,61,310 between 4 December 2025 and 1 February 2026. TIB noted that significant sums were spent even before the official campaign period began.
The report also found that political parties and prospective candidates started campaigning ahead of the permitted timeframe, breaching provisions of the Wall Writing and Posters (Control) Act, 2012 by displaying promotional materials on walls, pillars, vehicles and other public and private structures.
Despite directives from the Election Commission instructing candidates to remove campaign materials, 81.3% failed to comply.
In one instance, a campaigning candidate allegedly threatened an executive magistrate over the phone after being asked to remove campaign materials, TIB noted.
The study also observed attempts to influence the administration, as well as statements by political leaders that allegedly pressured others to work in favour of particular parties.
The Election Commission adopted a new framework for candidates' spending limits in December.
Under this framework, a candidate in each seat is allowed to spend either Tk25 lakh or Tk10 per voter – whichever amount is greater. This means in a seat with 2.5 lakh or fewer voters, the spending limit is Tk25 lakh.
In a seat with more than 2.5 lakh voters, the limit will be determined proportionately according to the number of voters.
If a constituency has 3,00,000 voters, then the per-voter calculation (Tk10 per voter) pushes up the spending limit to Tk30 lakh. In Dhaka-19, with about 7.5 lakh voters, a candidate can spend up to Tk75 lakh.
