Candidates contesting the next parliament elections can spend Tk 10,00000 more than their predecessors.But the candidates will now be required to deposit double the amount candidates in the previous elections deposited for participating in the elections, according to the amended Representation of the Peoples Order.
The cabinet on Monday approved the amendments proposed to the RPO. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the regular cabinet meeting. The amendments will now be tabled in the parliament for its passage as a law. The next parliament election is expected by Jan 24 next year.
Cabinet secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan briefed journalists about the decision of the meeting held at the secretariat.
The amendments came after the Election Commission sent a proposal in this regard on July 25.
If passed in the parliament, candidates can now spend Tk 25,00000 in place of the previously allowed electoral expenditure of Tk 15,00000.
But money spent to cover the travel expenses of a party’s chief will not be counted as electoral expenditures.
On the other hand, an organisation can donate up to Tk 50,00000 instead of the previous Tk 25,00000 to a political party.
According to secretary Bhuiyan, the candidates will have to deposit Tk 20,000 instead of Tk 10,000 for contesting the elections.
The amendment also states that a candidate’s polling agent must be a voter at the centre where he is posted.-bdnews24.com
