Candidates must submit election expense returns by 14 March: EC

The candidates who contested the 13th national election are legally obliged to submit their election expense returns to the Election Commission (EC) by 14 March.

"There is an obligation to submit candidates' poll expense returns to the concerned returning officer within 30 days after the announcement of the election result (in the gazette)," said a letter the EC sent to returning officers today (25 February).

The EC also asked returning officers to send the submitted election expense returns to the Commission by 25 March.

According to Article 44C (1) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, every election agent of a contesting candidate must, within 30 days after the publication of the name of the returned candidate, submit to the returning officer a return of election expenses in the prescribed form.

Since the official election result was published on 13 February, candidates must submit their election expense returns by 15 March.

A total of 2,028 candidates ran in the 12 February national election held in 299 constituencies across the country (except Sherpur-3). The contestants included 1,755 nominated by 50 political parties and 273 independent candidates.

The EC published the names and addresses of 297 elected MPs in a gazette on 13 February, keeping the election results of Chattogram-2 and four constituencies withheld in line with court decisions.

Political parties that participated in the recent general election must submit an expenditure statement to the Election Commission within 90 days after the completion of the election.