Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Trusty Board Chairman Professor Muzaffer Ahmed on Monday called upon the government to conduct audit and take legal action against those responsible for additional expenditure during 9th parliamentary election in excess of the amount fixed by the Election Commission.
This call was made while TIB Chairman are addressing a press conference on 'report disclosing on election process and auditing' held at National Press Club yesterday. TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman was also present at the conference.
Eighty eight candidates of forty election constituencies on an average spent over Tk 44 lakhs violating the code of conduct of EC, whereas each candidate was asked by EC to spend only 15 lakh said a report conducted by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
Out of 88, each of 77 candidates' amount of expenditure has exceeded the limit of expenditure fixed by the election commission. Candidates of BNP, Jamaat-e Islam and Jatiya Party on an average have spent over 50 lakhs while Awami League candidates on an average have spent about Tk 35, 67,321 during the last parliament election. One candidate spent 2,81,00,000 which was the highest expenditure for election purpose.
Most candidates spent the highest amount of money for conducting election campaigning and on an average they spent about Tk 18 thousands for this purposes. Besides, candidates spent a huge amount of money to buy nomination, votes and to influence administration.
Referring to Indian election commission system, TIB chairman said that soon after declaring of election schedule, auditors are appointed by the EC of India and if candidates spend exceeding the amount fixed by the commission, EC cancels their candidatures. TIB Chairman also said that the government would have to strengthen the election commission by increasing its manpower to conduct all sorts of election related activities with a view to holding free, fair and credible elections.
Appreciating the role of media, he said mass media are playing an important role in educating people of the country about establishing a democratic process. Media should be more active in increasing awareness of people about their voting rights.
He said the deployment of Army contributed to holding peaceful election but the government will have to think that how extensively they ought to be deployed during elections.
The EC should involve civil society in important election related activities and take some initiatives to increase awareness among the people about election code of conduct, TIB chair said.
Source: www.thebangladeshtoday.com
