EC plans local poll spending at Tk72cr

The Election Commission (EC) plans to spend Tk 72.32 crore on buying election materials, printing documents and running awareness campaigns for the upcoming local government elections. Although the election dates have not yet been finalised, the commission hopes to begin voting with Union Parishad elections in January next year.

The Election Commission plans to start buying election materials for local government elections on 12 October. The process is expected to continue until 17 June next year. For Upazila Parishad elections, purchases are planned between 8 January and 17 June next year. The full cost will be covered by the government’s revenue budget.

According to EC sources, the commission approved its annual procurement plan for the 2026-27 financial year last month. It plans to spend  Tk 132.67 crore on goods, services and other activities a year. The largest share will go towards buying election materials, printing documents and running awareness campaigns.

Of the total Tk 72.32 crore planned for election materials and campaigns, Tk 62.24 crore will be spent on buying and printing election materials. Another Tk 10.08 crore will go towards banners, posters, leaflets and other campaign materials.

EC officials said the commission had bought 27 types of election materials for the 13th parliamentary election and referendum held on 12 February. These included transparent ballot boxes, some of which are still in stock.

The commission plans to use its existing supplies and buy at least 15 more types of materials for the local government elections.

Printing will be the biggest expense in the procurement plan. The EC plans to spend Tk 35.77 crore on printing 170,000 reams of materials through the government printing press.

It will also spend Tk 8.83 crore to prepare 16.6 lakh copies of guidelines for polling officers. Another Tk 8.18 crore will be spent on printing 9,29,500 manuals for presiding officers and assistant presiding officers.

Among the election materials to be purchased, indelible ink will cost the most. The commission has set aside Tk 3.15 crore to buy 4.1 lakh bottles of ink.

Other planned purchases include 10,100 kilogrammes of red sealing wax for Tk 20.20 lakh and 21.5 lakh seals for Tk 86 lakh.

The EC also plans to spend Tk 2.66 crore on 4.1 lakh self-inking stamps and Tk 68.40 lakh on 3.6 lakh official seals. A further Tk 50.40 lakh will be spent on 7.2 lakh marking seals, while 51,000 brass seals will cost Tk 15.80 lakh.

The plan also includes 73,000 gunny bags for Tk 95.60 lakh, 17,000 large Hessian bags for Tk 12.80 lakh and 51,000 small Hessian bags for Tk 13.80 lakh.

The EC has allocated Tk 4.15 crore for campaign materials for Union Parishad elections. This will cover 51,200 environmentally friendly banners, 51,200 drop-down banners and 1.3 lakh leaflets.

The same amount, Tk 4.15 crore, has been set aside for similar campaign materials for Upazila Parishad elections.

For municipality elections, the commission plans to spend Tk 60 lakh on banners and leaflets. Another Tk 98 lakh has been allocated for campaign materials for city corporation elections.

The EC will also spend Tk 20 lakh on banners, festoons and leaflets for various by-elections and National Voter Day on 2 March next year. Together, these campaigns will cost Tk 10.08 crore.

EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said that buying election materials was an ongoing process. The commission would purchase items as and when they were needed.

He said all materials needed for the upcoming elections had been prepared, but more purchases would be required in the future.

“Election procurement will continue as long as elections are held,” he said.