Candidates in the 12th parliamentary elections spent four times more than the permissible limit on average, according to a study of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
The average expenditure of a candidate from before the announcement of the schedule to the election day was Tk1,21,96,079, which was four times more than the expenditure limit of Tk25 lakh set by the Election Commission.
The anti-graft watchdog conducted the research study titled ‘12th National Parliamentary Election Process Tracking’ in 50 out of total 300 constituencies from June 2023 to January 2024.
It disclosed the primary report at a programme at its office in the capital on Wednesday.

The Awami League candidates spent the most which is 11.66 times more than the permissible limit, according to the TIB report.
For electioneering, a candidate can spend Tk10 per voter and highest Tk25 lakh in total even if the number of voters in a constituency is more than 2.5 lakh as per the notification issued in line with the Representation of the People Order, 1972.
Significant areas of the expenditure were posters, election camps, public meetings and expenditure for activists.
Speaking at the report-launching programme, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said the general election held on 7 January was one-sided and ‘dramatically’ competitive.
The election was not held in a free and inclusive manner due to the reversed and adamant position of the country’s two major political parties, he said.
According to the TIB report, the election was not free and inclusive due to mutually contradictory and intransigent positions of the two largest political parties.

“The state of hostage of the future of democracy to this contradictory agenda and intransigence-driven conflict has been further exacerbated.” it added.
The TIB said, “The agenda to ensure continued stay in power through one-sided election has been successfully achieved, the legality of which may not be challenged, or may not hold if challenged. But in terms of political integrity, democratic and moral values, this success will remain ever debatable.”
The key elements of the concept of democratic election and national and international good practices like free, inclusive and above all, the precondition of a level playing field for free, open and unrestricted competition were not met, said the report.

The total average spending by AL candidates from before the announcement of the schedule to the election day was Tk3,16,74,269 -- Tk1,48,94,167 from the announcement of the polls schedule to the election day (EC stipulated time) and Tk1,67,80,102 before the announcement of the schedule.
The total average expenditure by AL independent candidates was Tk2,02,20,398 – Tk1,89,22,100 during the stipulated time and Tk12,98,298 before the announcement of the schedule.
On average, Jatiya Party candidates spent Tk82,13,967 –  Tk 46,09,951 during the stipulated time and Tk36,04, 016 before the announcement of the schedule.
Besides, Trinamool BNP candidates' expenditure was Tk9,76,662 – Tk 7,66,912 during the stipulated time and Tk2,09,750 before the announcement of the schedule.
Independent candidates’ spending was Tk96,74,550 – Tk 92,50,550 during the stipulated time and Tk4,24,000 before the announcement of the schedule.