The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The 142 nomination expectants of 40 constituencies spent more than Tk 3 lakh on an average in various ways for the parliamentary election-2008 before December 11, the deadline of withdrawal of candidacy, violating electoral code of conduct Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) yesterday revealed at a press conference.

The time span of the survey was from Eid-ul-Fitr to December 11. TIB used random sampling process for the survey. The data of the survey based on visible expenditure and lowest estimated cost.

The 51 nomination expectant candidates of Awami League (AL) spent Tk 16,02,700 while 44 candidates of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and 12 of Jatiya Party (JAPA) spent Tk 19,78,000 and Tk 8,00,000 respectively. Six expectant candidates of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami spent Tk 5,00,000. 21 candidates of other parties and seven individual candidates spent Tk 1,10,000 and Tk 10,00,000 respectively before the deadline of withdrawal of candidacy.

According to the report, 91 candidates spent Tk 98,14,500 for public meeting, 65 spent Tk 59,20,000 for public communication, 40 spent Tk 1,38,65,500 for gift and donation, 33 used Tk 35,77,200 for rallies and show-down.

Thirty-one nomination expectants spent Tk 21,98,00 for conveyance, 31 spent Tk 58,01,400 for refreshment, 19 spent Tk 6,00,000 for press conference, 13 spent Tk 1,82,800 for black and white poster while seven spent Tk 7,74,000 for leaflet and banners.

Five nomination expectants spent Tk 2,11,500 for establishing camp, four spent Tk 55,000 in announcement, two used tk 3000 for graffiti, one spent Tk 10,000 on arches, one expectants spent tk 2,00,000 and another one used Tk 14,500 for coloured stickers.

Prof Mozaffar Ahmed, Chairman of Trusty Board of TIB, said using of the money that is allocated by government for MPs remain out of accountability as no voucher was maintained.

He however admitted some shortcomings. "If stratified random sampling was used as instrument for the survey the data will be more enriched", he said.