Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Monday said the government may need to revise the election budget, as holding the national election and referendum on the same day is expected to push up costs, particularly for security, logistics and manpower.
“When we first received their proposal, the referendum was not in the plan. Naturally, holding both on the same day will involve additional expenses. You will need more manpower, more security, more logistics,” he told reporters after a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase at the Secretariat.
Dr Salehuddin said essential and urgent expenses can still be accommodated even after the election schedule has been announced. “There is nothing for the Finance Ministry to worry about. If the Election Commission needs something urgently, that can be arranged,” he said.
He noted that expenditures may also rise because of the ongoing registration of Bangladeshi expatriate voters at foreign missions. “Foreign missions are doing preparatory work. Officers are collecting information and overtime costs will be involved. The Foreign Ministry may request funds. We will provide support,” he said.
Responding to a remark by the Chief Election Commissioner that conducting a referendum alongside the national polls would be a major challenge, Dr Salehuddin said the issue was beyond his jurisdiction. He added that holding both votes on the same day is more practical.
“This is a government decision. Doing it on two separate days would require the entire mobilisation twice—returning officers, teachers, bank officials, everyone. It is not easy. Many countries hold referendums and national polls on the same day. Logistically, it is better,” he said.
On the planned use of body cameras by law enforcement agencies during the polls, Dr Salehuddin said the government had already made a policy decision, and procurement would proceed through the relevant security agencies. “The purchase committee has made a decision. We have instructed the relevant agencies to procure the equipment using their allocated budgets and in a transparent manner,” he said.
He declined to disclose the expected number of cameras. “It is not my responsibility to decide numbers. This falls under the Home Ministry and its agencies. The Election Commission will only identify sensitive locations. Police, BGB, RAB and other agencies will procure and use them. There is nothing to worry about,” he added.
Dr Salehuddin also said the Finance Division recently scrapped a proposal to buy 100 replacement vehicles for cabinet members of the next elected government. “Sometimes wrong messages go out. The vehicles were replacement units, not extra ones. Still, we canceled the plan because it is not necessary now,” he said.
He added that internal revisions to the national budget are already underway. “We are reviewing the budget. All ministries have been given a deadline to submit their final estimates. In December we will revise the national budget, and by January we will keep the election budget ready for the next government. Everything remains open,” he said.