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Download PDF The Election Commission (EC) is looking to put a ceiling on donations to the registered political parties to bring transparency in finances of the organisations.
According to its draft proposals for electoral reforms, no individual will be allowed to contribute more than Tk 5 lakh in cash or assets or service to a single registered political party while the amount will be no more than Tk 25 lakh for a contributing institution or a business entity.
The commission, however, did not specify any time for the sums to be donated by individuals or companies.
The donations to the political parties will be exempted from taxes if those who will give the money are taxpayers.
“But no registered political party shall receive any donation or funds from a foreign country, or individuals who are not of Bangladesh origin, or organisations that are locally registered but receive foreign funds,” say the draft proposals.
At present, the political parties can collect funds from any sources and allegations against them of abusing the opportunity are rife, the EC said explaining the rationale for the move.
In current political culture, businessmen and companies reportedly commit huge sums of money to the country’s main political parties on condition that the recipients, if voted to power, would do them a good turn.
There is little transparency in collection and expenditure of funds. Even most of the party leaders do not know about the financial matters that are usually controlled by a chosen few.
Ahead of the cancelled ninth parliamentary election, the major political parties had reportedly sold nominations in exchange for crores of taka.
The EC’s proposals say donations to the political parties will have to be made by cheque. On the other hand, a party must maintain accounts with a schedule bank. It must have its income and expenditure audited by a registered accounting firm every year and then submit a copy of the audit to the EC.
In addition, the commission has proposed stringent provisions regarding code of conduct for the political parties and candidates in parliamentary elections with a view to reduce the overall polls expenditure.
By the same token, the EC did not propose increasing the limit on election expenditure which is currently Tk 5 lakh for a candidate.
Earlier, the EC announced a set of proposals outlining certain conditions for a political party to register with it. Registration will be the main criterion for a party to contest the parliamentary polls.
Those intending to be registered will have to furnish the commission with a number of documents that include among others annual audit report, accounts number with local and foreign banks, and sources of party funds.
In the face of strong opposition from the major political parties, the EC could not make the registration mandatory in 2001. This time almost all the parties are in favour of the system and the EC too is resolved to make the plan come about to ensure financial transparency in the parties.
The EC has already started a series of dialogues with the political parties on its proposals for electoral reforms. The proposals might be modified in the light of suggestions from the participants in the talks that began on September 12.
The proposals will be finalised in consultation with political parties and sent to the caretaker government to be made into laws.
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