Awami League reports Tk2.76cr expense for 12th JS polls

The Awami League has reported an expenditure of Tk2.76 crore in the 12th national parliamentary election, as per the statement submitted to the Election Commission on Monday.

A delegation led by Awami League praesidium member Kazi Zafarullah presented the statement to EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam.

Under the Representation of the People Order, parties are required to submit their expenditure statements within 90 days after the polls. Awami League, with 266 candidates participating, was permitted a maximum expenditure of Tk4.5 crore.

Regarding the statement, Zafarullah said, "We were allocated a spending limit of Tk4.5 crore. Our election expenses fall below this threshold."

Awami League treasurer HN Ashequr Rahman said that the total electoral expenditure for the party in the 12th parliamentary election amounted to Tk2,76,78,120.

Ashequr said, "Candidates finance their own expenses, thus reducing the overall burden on the party. Where other parties need to spend Tk10, our expenses are minimised to Tk2."

Expenses were primarily allocated towards posters, public meetings, and publicity campaigns, he added.

Biplab Barua, the AL office secretary, revealed that Tk1.5 crore was spent during the 2018 11th national polls.

"As a registered party, we annually submit our income and expenditure accounts. Today, we have submitted the election expenditure statement. The income statement is detailed in the annual audit report," he added

AL Publicity and Publication Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan, Finance Planning Sub-Committee Member Zafrul Shahriar Jewel, and Culture Sub-Committee Member Nurul Alam Pathan among others were present on the occasion.