Tk2,100cr to be set aside for election expenses in FY26 budget
The Election Commission requested Tk5,922 for conducting national, local polls and other services
The finance ministry is expected to earmark nearly Tk2,100 crore in the FY2025-26 national budget for the Election Commission (EC) to cover the costs of the upcoming parliamentary elections and multiple local government polls.
Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed is set to present the next budget on Monday (2 June).
A ministry official, requesting anonymity, told TBS that the EC had initially sought Tk5,922 crore to conduct around 2,500 elections, including national, city corporation, district and upazila council, municipality, and union parishad elections—both general and by-elections.
He said that, assuming the 13th parliamentary election takes place within FY26, Tk2,080 crore has been specifically set aside for that purpose. This amount, however, may be increased in the revised budget to ensure free and fair elections.
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The official added that the EC's total funding request of Tk5,921.73 crore for FY26 included Tk2,800 crore for organising the parliamentary election and law enforcement expenses. Additionally, the EC requested Tk2,794.55 crore for local government elections, and Tk69.25 crore for maintaining the voter list and national ID services.
The interim government, headed by Prof Yunus, has announced that the national election will take place between December this year and June next year. However, political parties, including the BNP, are pressing for the polls to be held by December 2025.
Meanwhile, the newly formed student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) has suggested that local government elections be held prior to the parliamentary vote.
For the 12th parliamentary election, held on 7 January 2024, the government initially allocated Tk2,406 crore, which was later revised to Tk4,769 crore to cover the full costs. Election budgets typically include not just polling expenses but also the deployment of law enforcement to maintain order.
In comparison, for the 2018 parliamentary elections, about Tk1,000 crore was allocated initially, with the final allocation increased through a revised budget.
