EC asks for financial reports from 40 parties
The Election Commission (EC) has sent letters to 40 registered political parties asking them to submit their annual income and expenditure statements for the previous year, by July 31.
The commission did not send any letter to the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami as it had lost its registration through a 2013 verdict of the High Court.
EC sources said that the commission had sent letters to the secretary general or general secretary of the political parties.
We have sent letters to 40 registered political parties to submit annual financial statements by July 31. However, we did not sent any letter to Jamaat as the party lost its recognition in 2013, Md Sirajul Islam, EC Secretary told The Independent yesterday.
The submission of the financial reports was made mandatory in 2008 by an amendment to the Representation of the People Order.
Now parties are required to submit all relevant documents relating to their income and expenditure, including bills and vouchers.
The Representation of People Order Article H(1)C states that registration of a political party may be cancelled for failing to provide the EC with information for three consecutive years.
The parties have to provide information about income from at least 20 counts, including: subscriptions of party workers, executive committee or advisers; donation by different persons or organisations; donation by the candidates during election; and income from sources like house rent or other properties.
They also have to provide information about expenditure on salaries of party workers, housing and administration, telephone, postage, courier, newspapers, utility services, entertainment and elections etcetera.
