EC estimates Tk 3,100 crore cost for Feb 12 election, referendum

The Chronify

January 29, 2026

The Election Commission of Bangladesh has approved an estimated budget of Tk 3,100 crore to hold the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum simultaneously on February 12.

The Election Commission (EC) has estimated that the overall expenditure for conducting the upcoming referendum and the 13th national parliamentary election will amount to around Tk 3,100 crore.

The budget was approved on Wednesday, with EC officials stating that Tk 1,200 crore has been allocated for election management and operational expenses, while Tk 1,400 crore will be spent on the deployment of law enforcement agencies.

An additional Tk 500 crore has been earmarked for referendum-related costs, postal balloting, and other ancillary purposes. Officials noted that the allocation could be revised upward if required.

In comparison, the cost of the 12th national election held in 2024 was Tk 2,276 crore.

Explaining the increased expenditure, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the rise was expected due to the simultaneous conduct of both the parliamentary election and the referendum, as well as the use of postal ballots alongside traditional manual voting.

“The expenses are expected to be higher than before as we are arranging voting for the general election and also the referendum and using the postal ballots alongside the manual ballots,” he said.

On December 11, the EC-headed by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin-announced that the election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order would be held on the same day.

For the first time, the commission has introduced an IT-supported hybrid postal balloting system combining digital registration with manual voting. The system will be used by expatriate Bangladeshis in over 120 countries, government employees working outside their constituencies, polling personnel, and individuals under legal custody inside the country.