Originally posted in BanglaNews24 on 23 May 2026
The Election Commission has extended the deadline until June 13 for 23 political parties, including BNP and the National Citizen Party, to submit their election expenditure statements for the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election.The parties had failed to submit their expense returns within the original deadline. The commission said legal action would be taken if they do not respond within the extended time.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said BNP, NCP and other parties that missed the deadline had been given an additional month to submit their expenditure statements.
“If any of them still fails to submit the accounts, punitive action will be taken in accordance with the law,” he said.
Asked what action could be taken, Masud said the Representation of the People Order requires parties to submit their expenditure statements within 90 days of publication of election results in the official gazette.If a party fails to do so, the EC can give it one more month, he said. If the party still fails to submit the accounts, it may be fined Tk 10,000 and given another 15 days. If it does not submit the statement even then, its registration may be cancelled, he added.
A total of 50 parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Party and NCP, contested the February 12 election. The last date for submitting expenditure statements was May 13.
Of them, 27 parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Party, submitted their accounts, while 23 parties, including BNP and NCP, failed to do so.
Under the RPO, political parties must keep proper accounts of all income and expenditure in the constituencies where their candidates contested. Donations of more than Tk 5,000 must be recorded with the donor’s name, address, amount and mode of payment, and parties must publish the details of such donations on their official websites.The law also sets spending limits for political parties based on the number of candidates they field. A party with more than 200 candidates may spend up to Tk 4.5 crore; a party with more than 100 but not more than 200 candidates may spend up to Tk 3 crore; a party with more than 50 but not more than 100 candidates may spend up to Tk 1.5 crore; and a party with 50 or fewer candidates may spend up to Tk 75 lakh.
A party may spend up to Tk 1.5 lakh per candidate. However, the travel expenses of a party chief for election campaigning are excluded from the party’s overall spending limit.
The RPO also says no party may accept donations of more than Tk 5,000 except by cheque. Violation of the provision may lead to a fine of up to Tk 10 lakh.
According to EC officials, Jamaat-e-Islami has already submitted its expenditure statement, showing total spending of Tk 4,49,47,972. Of the amount, Tk 4 crore was given as grants to 225 candidates. The party also showed expenses for manifesto design and printing, press conferences, hospitality, transport of election materials, visits by central leaders and advertisements.Jatiya Party reported spending only Tk 5 lakh. The party said it did not provide grants to candidates. It spent Tk 3.25 lakh on election campaigning, Tk 1.15 lakh on public rallies and Tk 65,000 on staff costs.
The 23 parties given time until June 13 are BNP, Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, Bangladesh Muslim League, Ganatantri Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD, Nationalist Democratic Movement, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP, Gono Forum, Amar Bangladesh Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Nagorik Oikya, Ganosamhati Andolon, Ganafront, Bangladesh Minority Janata Party, Bangladesh Kallyan Party, Bangladesh Republican Party, National Citizen Party, Islami Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Islami Front, Am Janatar Dal, Bangladesh Samo Odhikar Party and Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party.
The EC may start punitive proceedings against the parties if they fail to submit their accounts by June 13.
