The government has allocated of Tk 2,956 crore to the Election Commission Secretariat in the proposed national budget for the financial year 2025–26.
The allocation is aimed at funding both routine operations and key development initiatives, including preparations for the upcoming national and local elections.
Finance adviser to the interim government Salehuddin Ahmed on Monday announced the proposed budget for FY26. Â
Although the proposed allocation is nearly 160 per cent higher compared to the revised allocation of Tk 1,142 crore to the EC in FY25, it remains significantly lower than the revised allocation of Tk 4,769 crore in FY24, the year the 12th Jatiya Sangsad election was held.
This year’s allocation is intended to facilitate a wide range of functions and preparations for the commission, including the conduct of the upcoming national and local elections, the maintenance of the voter database, the distribution of National Identity Cards and the enhancement of electoral infrastructure through digital transformation.
The Election Commission had sought Tk 5,922 crore in allocation from the Finance Division under the finance ministry in the budget for conducting the next national election and local government polls.
Of the amount, Tk 2,794.55 crore was sought for the national election, with the rest for the local government elections.
EC secretary Akhter Hossain on Monday told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that the final budget would depend on how many elections would be scheduled within the financial year.
He said the allocation might be revised later.
‘If the EC is required to hold a large number of local government elections in a short period — such as within three to six months — it will seek additional allocations to meet the increased needs,’ the EC secretary said.
The Election Commission is expected to implement several major projects and activities in the financial year 2025–26.
The activities would include holding two City Corporation elections, four municipality elections, 10 Upazila Parishad elections, 10 Union Parishad elections, and the national parliament elections.
Other key initiatives include celebrating National Voter Day at both central and grassroots levels, updating the voter list with photographs, printing and distributing paper-laminated and smart NID cards, and registering citizens under the age of 18.
Additionally, the EC would carry out auditing and documentation of its NID systems, including the content management system, blind vision rehabilitation services, automated fingerprint identification system, and smart card printing software.
Bangladeshi citizens residing abroad would also be able to register for and receive smart NID cards under the new budgetary provisions.
Further steps would include setting up an NID mini archive and library, operationalising the Disaster Recovery Site at the Regional Election Officer’s office in Cumilla and installing cybersecurity sensor systems to integrate the NID system into a Critical Information Infrastructure platform.
The budget would also support the continuation of partner services for NID verification, the registration of political parties, the preservation of party symbols, the formation of election tribunals for resolving electoral disputes and legislative activities related to electoral laws and policy development.
Besides, the Election Commission would also enhance its coordination with both local and international organisations through meetings, seminars, workshops and agreements.